NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

"What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kane is a WILDDDDD ride. WOW.

Addison sets up Richmond under the guise that she's got dirt on his darkest secret. What does she want? Marriage and the money that comes with it. Now what exactly does the wife know?

Holy yah. That was a good one. Lots of twists and turns that kept going until the very end. I really enjoyed it and Kane will always be a must read for me.

Parts of it took some getting into which is why I couldn't give it a 5 but, yah, def a 4.55555 because man, it was good.

Big thanks to @williammorrowbooks for the ARC! This one comes out December 2024 so stay tuned!

#netgalley #whatthewifeknew #darbykane #arc

This was my second book by Darby Kane and I had high hopes when I started this one... and Kane soared right over those hopes! This book was so good! It left me wanting more after each chapter, i definitely read passed my bedtime on this one.

This one started off very strong and before I knew it, I was halfway through the book. My biggest issue with this book is how it went completely off the rails in the last 25%, especially since it didn't need to. The twists caused the story to go in a really bizarre direction and I felt like I had whiplash from page to page. Similarly, I think too much additional plot lines and red herrings were introduced that were never followed through which was especially disappointing giving the very serious themes.

A minor sidenote - but I couldn't understand why Addison kept allowing those people in her house. The final "reveal" scene was written very strangely... I kept expecting more because of how non-bothered every character was acting but nothing ever came from that.

This one was a miss for me. The story did not capture my attention, and it ended up being too far fetched. And I was not able to connect or care about the characters. I wish I had liked it more!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Yet another propulsive twist fest from Kane. Another read in one sitting.

Addison just married Richmond. It wasn’t for love. It was more for revenge. Now Richmond is dead and everyone is coming for Addison…except she really didn’t kill him. But now someone is trying to make her the prime suspect and they will make sure she dies before anyone can realize she’s innocent.

I have a new Kane favorite! This was a dangerously exciting thriller full of twisted dysfunction, WTF! secrets and evil lies that will keep you guessing and craving more as you fly through the pages. I can't think of one negative comment. This book was pure perfection and completely irresistible to put down. It was well-written, incredibly enjoyable, and I loved all of the characters...even the ones that you're supposed to hate. Tension and the need to know more enveloped me like a wet blanket while I chewed off all of fingernails waiting for the reveal. I loved every minute of it, and I think most readers will, too. I highly recommend it to everyone!

Thank you to William Morrow for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!

#WhatTheWifeKnew #NetGalley
A must read. 5/5
Dr. Richmond Dougherty is not just a respected pediatric surgeon but also a survivor of a tragic event that made him a national hero. However, his illustrious life comes to an abrupt and suspicious end when he falls down the stairs, leaving behind a trail of questions and a widow who quickly becomes the town’s prime suspect.Addison, the new Mrs. Dougherty, married Richmond just ninety-seven days before his death. Their short-lived marriage was marked by two suspicious accidents, leading the local community to view her with deep suspicion. Now, as a wealthy widow, she faces the wrath of Richmond’s first wife, Kathryn, his high school sweetheart and the mother of his children. Kathryn, leading the charge against Addison, intensifies the scrutiny and hostility, making Addison’s life increasingly difficult.As law enforcement closes in, and the town’s animosity grows, Addison remains undeterred. She is on a mission to unravel Richmond’s legacy, one that she had been plotting for years. However, her plans take a dark turn when she discovers a menacing message scrawled on her bedroom wall: “You will pay.” Despite the ominous threat, Addison is not one to back down. Richmond’s unexpected death may have thrown a wrench in her plans, but she is far from done with him or the secrets he left behind.
Likes and Dislikes:
Likes: The novel’s suspenseful plot and well-developed characters are its strongest assets. Kane’s ability to keep the reader guessing with well-placed twists makes for an engaging and thrilling read. The exploration of complex themes such as revenge, justice, and the impact of secrets adds depth to the narrative.
Dislikes: Some readers may find the shifting perspectives and timelines a bit challenging to follow at times. Additionally, while the novel’s ending is satisfying, it may feel abrupt to those who prefer a more drawn-out resolution.
Overall : What the Wife Knew is a gripping and intricately plotted thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Darby Kane masterfully weaves a tale of deception and revenge, with enough twists and turns to keep the suspense alive throughout the novel. The narrative delves into the complexities of human relationships, the corrosive nature of secrets, and the lengths one will go to achieve justice—or vengeance.
A must read.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended.

I love it! It has so many twists and turns. Fantastic short chapters that are easy to keep up with. If you’re new to mystery/ thrillers I’d definitely recommend.

This book is so full of twists, it’s hard to keep up. It’s an assemblage of revenge, blackmail, family drama, murder and mayhem.

Darby Kane is an auto-read author for me. I have always loved her books. I did enjoy this one too, however, I didn’t love it. I enjoyed the short chapters, the premise of the book and the ending, but it was a bit predictable. I do recommend this to thriller lovers and give it 4/5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

This book was full of twist and turns and an absolute joy to read. I could not put it down and finished it in a day. The characters felt real and sadly, there are dysfunctional families like this out there. I give this book 5 stars!

What the Wife Knew, acclaimed, best selling author, Darby Kane's wild ride of revenge, whodunit, blackmail and twisties galore is one for the top of the stacks!
The only thing more twisted than this domestic thriller is who killed Dr. Richmond Dougherty.
The plot twists kept me reading late into the early morning hours. Darby Kane novels always promise intrigue, atmospheric settings and in depth characters. This is not a sugar coated thriller, this is blackmail, revenge and bad blood at it's best. Ambiance sets the eerie tone and grabs hold from the start, stormy and volatile. The character development is rich, I was invested  throughout the blackmail of Dr. Dougherty, his botched relationships, career blunders to his final tumble and who took him out. Murder, marriages, threats, intrigue, lies and secrets fueled the alternating point of views and kept the dual timelines pumping to a satisfying, twisted climax.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC #WhattheWifeKnew #williammorrowbooks

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane
My rating:
4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Addison married Doctor Richmond Dougherty to expose his past and with every intention of killing him, but someone killed him before she had the chance.

I really enjoyed this one! There were a lot of twists and turns to this domestic thriller and I honestly had no idea where the story was going at the end! While the main plot could be seen as predictable, the ending was not for me!

I really enjoyed the past and present timelines and the short chapters. I would say this had a good pace to it and always kept my interest.

The main character was likeable and I liked getting to know more about her past.

This is my third book by the author and I would consider her an autobuy author for me! Thank you netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC! This will be published December 10th 2024, so add it to your to be read shelf now!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book pulled me in right away and kept me guessing the whole time. Twisty and intense! I read it in 2 days. The only cons were I liked the story a little less once Addison’s mom was introduced. I found her over the top and annoying. Also the constant trying to out-twist each other toward the end was a bit much.

All in all I did like the book and enjoyed it. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 since it was a quick read, good story and I wasn’t able to put it down.

Okay get ready to buckle up tight for this wild ride!!!! Holy moly, this was GOOD! I was so hooked from the beginning and my husband even was asking how it was ending. Such a great book!

Have you ever started a book and just a few pages in thought… yep, this is going to be an incredible 5 star book? Well, that’s how this one was for me. The first three pages alone are absolute gold. I’ve already added it to my list of top reads for 2024✨

short summary: addison’s still a newlywed, but she is attending her husband’s funeral. Unfortunately, someone killed him before she had the chance to, and she’s in a race to find out who did it before she is arrested for the murder she didn’t commit.

Read if you love:
-short chapters
-hilarious inner monologue (think Lucy from Listen for the Lie)
-dual POV
-dual timeline
-whodunnit mystery with lots of potential suspects
-twists and turns throughout the book

5+ ⭐️

HUGE thank you to Darby Kane who mailed me a signed advanced copy of this book!!! Thank you SO much, I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!! 😍 also thank you to William Morrow for my advanced e-copy. I loved it!

Pub date 12.10.24

Had potential to be great but fell short. Maybe if the author stopped focusing so much on everyone trying to outwit each other with words, she could have focused on a better plot and sub-plot. A game of cat-and-mouse where you're wondering who is actually the cat and who is the mouse, but is confused and a disappointment more than anything.

Strong 3.5 weak 4 star. Started off strong, but not sure if it's because I've read so many thrilllers now, it slightly sizzled out for me at the end. Still overall a good premise, and I enjoyed the book for what it was.

Synopsis: Someone had the chance to kill Addison’s husband before she had the chance to. Can she find out who’s guilty before she’s arrested for a murder she didn’t commit.

Thoughts: This was a TWISTY domestic thriller with so much family drama, potential suspects and unlikable characters. It was a wild ride figuring out what was going on beneath the surface of Addison’s marriage, and the conclusion was executed perfectly after all the suspense. I didn’t love any of the characters (minus the kids) but also think that was the point.

Read if you like:
-Short chapters
-Con artists stories
-Rich people problems
-Twisty stories
-Dual POV and timeline

This book could have been a 5 star read for it. It started out so strong but it sizzled out as it went on. I felt like it took a while to get to the end. But it still kept my attention until the last page.

This is one of those books that, in retrospect, feels like it was predictable. Like, this happened, so of course, that happened. But that's only in retrospect. In the moment, it's a gripping and twisty read that only gets more exciting with the introduction of a few wild cards.