The book was a slow burn but that final quarter… it was plot twist after plot twist, making my rating go from 3 to 4 stars.

Addison has married a man she loathes. He is very rich but is not a good man. Her goal is to ruin him.

This was quite the page turner and the twists just kept on coming. The writing and plot were very good, but it got a 4* rating because I think it could have ended sooner. The dysfunctional family dynamic on both sides was so hard to imagine, but rang true.

This is a first time author for me but I will be looking for more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Addison's husband, Dr. Richmond Dougherty, has been murdered. Addison and Richmond have only been married a short time - Richmond was previously married to Kathryn, and together they have grown children. This is the story of the investigation into Richmond's death. The book is written from both his and her perspectives, and it moves back and forth in time, which are both fun features of a lot of contemporary fiction. There's a little "tongue in cheek" humor scattered throughout.

I enjoyed how Darby Kane weaves the facts in and out, and up and down. I was still guessing about "whodunit", and who was really who until the very end. I thought I had solved this murder, and then more information was produced. And that was the case throughout my reading. The ending was a little bit violent. Ultimately, I was quite surprised by the ending details.

If you are looking for a thriller filled page-turner, then this will be the perfect book for you.

This is the first book I have read by this author and now I am on the hunt to find more! Darby's writing style is something that I really enjoyed. Darby sure knows how to tell a story and keep the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat.

I will recommend this book to all my thriller lovers, as I am sure they will like this book just as much as I did!

Richmond Dougherty was a well respected pediatric surgeon and a hero to many for being the sole survivor of an unfortunate tragedy years ago. When he falls down the steps and dies, suspicion falls on his newest wife, Addison, and we quickly realize that this is not a marriage made in heaven. Not only is she being investigated by the police, but Richmond’s ex-wife Kathryn also wants Addison to pay for this crime and will not give up!

The story is told primarily through Addidon’s point of view with a few chapters being told from Richmond’s before his death. This book captured my attention from the beginning and the storyline had me had me intrigued. It’s definitely a twisty thriller filled with lies, deception, and revenge. The beginning flew by for me. The middle was more of a slow burn and then it picked up again in the end. It is filled with characters that you will love to hate! Richmond and Addison despised eachother and I loved learning more about what was really going on between them as the story unfolded. The twists at the end just kept coming and it culminated in a very unexpected ending!

A book that’s all action, all gripping page-turner that won’t let you be until you finish the last page? Yup, this is this book, all in here!
It is a unique domestic psych thriller that is well-written, well-told, and throws curveballs at the readers. Avoid at all costs if you have to get up early the next morning!

Finished in one day! Loved it.
Very gripping, zero “fluff”, all action!
So many hateable characters… possibly a record setting amount. However, the lead is super clever and endearing. You definitely root for her to overcome the “bad guys” in the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An unusual domestic thriller in that the protagonist Addison forces Dr. Richard Dougherty to marry her through blackmail and the desire for revenge. The marriage only lasts a couple of months, but in that time there are two "accidents" that threaten Dougherty life before the last and fatal incident.

Addison isn't upset about his death, what she is concerned about is that she wanted to destroy him herself, and now she is a suspect for something she didn't do, and now someone is now targeting her. Can Addison reveal the secrets of Dougherty's life, discover who actually killed him, and make sure the world knows what a sham Richard Dougherty really was?

Although far-fetched, the plot held my attention until about half way when Addison opens the door to anyone who comes to call, including the ex-wife who would love to pin the murder on Addison. She can't seem to turn anyone away. A woman who can go through with a fake marriage for revenge, seems too willing to give everyone a hearing.

Interesting twists, but maybe a little too long in the latter part of the novel.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this advance reader copy of What the Wife Knew!

Fast paced and kept me guessing until the end! I’ll be looking for other books by Darby Kane!

This book had such a strong first half and I would even say the ending was satisfying in some ways but there are a few too many twists that had me feeling whiplash.

Addison is a character that has a sarcastic wit and a troubled past. She’s playing a long game to seek revenge on Richmond Daughtery. The story weaves all over the place

First half 4.5 stars
Middle 1/4 2.5 stars
End 3 stars.

As I said, it’s hard to land on a proper rating because I liked/loved most of it. I would recommend it but you just need keep in mind we get to a satisfying ending even if it’s a bumpy ride.

I loved the entire tone this book sets from the very first sentence to the last. It grips you and pulls you in having you go round and round. in a merry-go-around wanting to know what lurks behind the next page. A domestic suspenseful thriller dripping with sarcasm, attitude, and secrets will have you guessing the outcome of the many different events that take place. I am rating this 5 stars because this is not your average domestic thriller, and again with a tone unlike most books and a plot that is so twisted you'll want to read cover to cover in one night.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for this ARC for review. This was a fun twisty thriller as expected from Darby Kane. Dr Richmond Dougherty is a renowned surgeon and very dead. He had just married a new, young woman, Addison, so all things point to her as the murderer as she is now the rich new widow. But there is also the previous Mrs. Dougherty who hates Addison. And Addison had a plan to marry Dr Dougherty and then ruin him, not kill him.... Now Addison needs to find out what really happened before she gets blamed.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane is about a wife wondering who tried to kill her husband twice before finally succeeding because that was supposed to be her job. 

The story wasn't as page-turning as I was expecting. There were some slow parts in the middle. The flashbacks got a bit tedious to deal with. Plus, there were a lot of characters to keep track of and the story just never connected for me.

Overall, What the Wife Knew was just an okay read for me. It never really resonated nor left an impression; it was just an average read.

#WhattheWifeKnew #NetGalley @WmMorrowBooks

I’ve liked almost all of Darby Kanes book. Her first one was by far my favorite but this was had some good twists and kept me engaged. The switching of His/Her and timelines was a good way to keep the story going.

What The Wife Knew is a revenge thriller with a cast of characters so ruthless we'll be glad they're fictional. One is more contemptible than the next. The story is told primarily by Addison, an antagonist determined to ruin the man she marries for reasons made clear as the story unfolds. One can only describe Addison as single minded in her quest to destroy her target. The woman is all hard edges and isn't afraid to use them. She learned detachment from her cold, narcissistic mother. There are a few scenes where Addison shows a modicum of vulnerability, and these are especially sweet because we learn she's caring at her core. But revenge takes its toll on a person. Especially when plotting murder.

Readers will need to suspend disbelief from the first chapter to the last in this twisty thriller set in a community of the ultra-rich. The story is high drama all the way. Fans of HelenKay Dimon might enjoy reading this novel by her alter-ego, Darby Kane.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! Honestly, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a clever storyline.! Lots of surprises, twists and turns, and revenge at its finest. I would definitely recommend for an engaging read.

4.5 stars.

✨This was my first book by Darby Kane, and it did not disappoint. I’ve already been busy adding her backlist titles to my TBR.

✨I loved the main character who is layered and flawed with a soft heart in spite of herself – and completely likeable. She’s snarky and entertaining, and I couldn’t help but root her. The remaining cast of characters are those you love to hate. A nasty crew, that one.

✨Oh the scheming! And the scandalous, shocking twists and turns! I was glued to the pages.

✨This was a fast-paced rollercoaster ride, and I was thoroughly entertained.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Domestic thrillers
✨Multiple timelines
✨Jaw-dropping reveals
✨Dysfunctional family drama

"What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kane is an engrossing puzzle of a read mostly told from the point of view of Addison, a young woman who married an older man. We get a few flashback scenes from his POV, and from the beginning it's clear that they bear murderous levels of animosity toward each other. So of course when Richmond, the husband, is murdered, Addison becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of the whole town that had idolized Richmond and despised his newcomer, homewrecker wife. The only thing is, not only did Addison not do it, she's also now in danger herself.

Bit by bit Darby Kane dribbles out clues to how and why this mismatched pair was together in the first place, and what role their pasts--and their family members--play in this tense mystery. The story is an enjoyable page-turner. I especially appreciated getting to know the enigmatic Addison, who at first seems cold and heartless.

The only thing that did not work very well for me was the writing of the last bit of the book. Whereas the rest of the story moved along nicely, the ending seemed a bit mired in navel gazing and exposition. Still, I gobbled the story up and would rate it 4.5 (rounded to 5) stars...and will probably look for more Darby Kane stories to read!

Thanks very much to the author and publisher for the advance copy on which I based this honest review.

I usually read everything Darby Kane writes and love it. This one was just ok to me. The ending felt rushed. It was a fast read.