This was a great domestic thriller. While not especially, memorable, it really was enjoyable! Easily a book you could binge if you are looking for a vacation read or quick weekend book!

The premise of this book IMMEDIATELY grabbed my attention. I didn’t mind the flashbacks, I generally enjoy dual POV, and the morally grey characters kept me turning the pages! I genuinely did not anticipate where this plot went and how things wrapped up. Fast paced, plot driven, one of the best thrillers I’ve picked up in a while!

This was a good thriller, not the best I’ve read though. I feel as thought the beginning of the book started off strong but then I feel as though it was dragging and didn’t quite hit the mark for me. This is actually my first book by this author and I would definitely give her another chance.

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Pub Date: December 10, 2024
How I Read It:📱

Synopsis

Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a renowned pediatric surgeon with a past that made him infamous and a hero. But he’s now dead after falling down the stairs. Everybody suspects his new wife, Addison, murdered him, but she didn’t; somebody got to him first. But who? Addison starts digging and finds Richmond had more skeletons in his closet than she thought and now she’s in danger too.

My Thoughts
This book was so good! The characters were not the nicest of people, but you do end up feeling bad for a few of them and even rooting for them in the end. I did like Addison’s character a lot. She was evil when she needed to be, but deep down, she was compassionate and caring. Her best personality trait though was her sarcasm; I just loved it! Everytime somebody showed up at her house, I couldn’t wait for the dialogue! There were definitely an interesting cast of characters in this book! The author had me continually guessing as to who killed Richmond, and there were a lot of added parts that kept the mystery going. All in all, I love how the mystery unfolded. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Darby Kane, and this one, like her others, did not disappoint! If you’re looking for a good, page turning thriller or need to get out of a reading slump, grab this book!!

❗️Of Note
Death

Themes
🫣 Suspense
🔪 Murder

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️

Thank you William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane is a masterclass in psychological suspense and domestic intrigue. From the very first page, Kane weaves a gripping narrative full of twists, turns, and razor-sharp tension that will have you questioning everything you think you know. This book is a true page-turner, delivering unexpected thrills while also exploring complex relationships, secrets, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect themselves.

The plot centers around Holly, whose seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel after a shocking event forces her to confront the lies and hidden truths in her life. Kane excels at keeping the reader on edge, expertly blending suspense with emotional depth as Holly navigates a web of deception and betrayal. The story keeps you guessing, with clever misdirections and shocking twists that only heighten the suspense. Each new reveal feels earned and adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate narrative.

One of the standout elements of What the Wife Knew is its character development. Holly is a deeply compelling protagonist—flawed, relatable, and brimming with emotional complexity. Her internal struggle and evolution throughout the story make her an engaging character to follow, and her actions and motivations feel authentic. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each playing an essential role in the unfolding mystery. Kane does a fantastic job of creating characters who keep you on your toes, making it difficult to trust anyone fully.

Kane’s writing is sharp, atmospheric, and precise, with a pacing that maintains tension throughout the book. The alternating points of view add depth and intrigue, providing insight into different characters’ perspectives while gradually unveiling the layers of the mystery. The ending is both satisfying and unexpected, delivering a shocking twist that ties the entire story together in a way that feels both believable and emotionally resonant.

What the Wife Knew is a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers. It is brilliantly written, with a plot that will keep you guessing until the very last page. The complex characters, layered suspense, and jaw-dropping twists make this an unforgettable read. If you love a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you thinking long after you’ve turned the final page, then this is the thriller for you. Five stars all the way! I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you to William Morrow for my copy of WHAT THE WIFE KNEW. This one is out now.

I loved the twists and turns in this drama filled thriller. I went in mostly blind and that's definitely how I recommend it! This book has revenge, family drama, family drama and more family drama. If those things appeal to your thriller/suspense books then this one is for you!

Pretty little wife was a five star read for me so I was extremely excited to get this opportunity to read her latest. Great start to 2025 for me with this thriller

In What the Wife Knew, author Darby Kane introduces Addison, a woman whose husband, Richmond, is murdered—an event she finds upsetting only because she didn’t get the chance to do it herself. Through a mix of flashbacks and present-day events, readers uncover the dark dynamics of their marriage and the manipulative games that drove Addison to despise him. As she digs into the truth behind his death, Addison faces scrutiny from the police, tension with Richmond’s family, and ominous threats from an unknown harasser.

While the premise is intriguing, the story’s pacing feels off-balance. The early sections move slowly, making it difficult to stay fully engaged, and some of Addison’s choices seem out of place given the high stakes of it all. That said, the second half brings a solid dose of tension and unexpected reveals, making the journey worthwhile for those willing to stick with it.

What the Wife Knew is a thriller with a compelling concept and some standout twists, but it’s held back by a sluggish start and inconsistent character decisions. If you enjoy slow-burning mysteries with a big finish, this one might be for you.

Thank you to William Morrow for my free review copy.

Started out strong but then so drawn out. The twists were good but man it seemed to drag on. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3 stars

I enjoyed this read, but the pace seemed slower that her previous novels. Overall, it was a good story, but if I were to recommend a Darby Kane book, it wouldn't be this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

Addison has married Richmond, even thought it’s the very last thing she wanted to do. At her mother’s insistence she had to do it in the name of revenge. Though she really doesn’t understand why the need for revenge she always ends up doing her mother’s bidding. Hopefully she will be able to live through this and maybe even end up ahead of the game for the first time in her life. However, ex-wife Katheryn doesn’t know want to see that happen.

The last Kane book wasn’t my favorite, but this one is reminiscent of what I love about Kane’s writing. There was just enough suspense to keep things interesting.

Addison’s husband was murdered, but she’s only upset about it because she wanted to do it herself. We know from the beginning that Addison hated Richmond Dougherty, but the book slowly reveals the truth through flashbacks: why she married him, and why she hated him, and the twisted mind games they played during their short marriage. And in the present, Addison delves into the mystery of who killed her hated husband, while handling suspicion from police and Richmond’s family and dealing with an unknown person harassing her.

I had a hard time really getting invested in this one, and I found the pacing to be uneven. It dragged in places, which isn’t what you want from a thriller. I also occasionally found Addison’s behavior odd or unbelievable considering the circumstances <spoiler> (why was finding the bat not a higher priority for her? She had DAYS to find the thing.) </spoiler> Once it really got going, it was pretty good, with some unexpected twists in store, but it took way longer to get to that point than I would have liked.

CW: Harassment, gaslighting, spousal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, mind games, misogyny, psychopathic character, entitled behavior

Easy, quick domestic thriller. Wife is trying to figure out who tried to kill her husband twice before succeeding. She was the one who was supposed to do it. Seemed like an interesting plot, but I felt it wasn't executed very well. Way too many characters.

3.5⭐️

This was a slow start for me, but once it got going good- it was full of twists, turns and dysfunctional family relationships! Every character in this book harbors secrets and hidden agendas- no one can be trusted! Although the characters are quite unlikable, the roller coaster ride this story took me on was very entertaining.
If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with unexpected turns and tons of family drama, you will love What The Wife Knew!

I've been a fan of Darby Kane books for a few years now, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read and review this title from Netgalley. I was even more thrilled because I was not disappointed at all. This book was fast paced and kept me thoroughly engaged from the first page to the last. Every single character was flawed, with even the most liked being in a morally grey area and it worked so well with the plot and pacing of the book. As far as Darby Kane books go, this title is definitely one at the top of the list. I look forward to recommending this to other mystery readers.

Wow another page turner by Darby Kane. It was fast paced and I loved it. The only things I will say that made it a 4 star instead of a 5 star is that the characters were a little unlikeable and some of it felt as though it couldn't actually be true. But, go into it knowing these two things and I believe you will love it.

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I'm honestly unsure how to feel about this particular novel. I feel as though this book could have had a great storyline but there was so much to it that the "wow factors" started to not "wow" and kind of became a "another surprise....?" The characters were pretty cringy and I did not like a single one. The story was written well, but I feel as though it could have been done better with less of the "wow factor".

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery/thriller 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I enjoyed this one but honestly none of it really felt believable

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
dysfunctional family relationship
unlikable characters
cat and mouse games
lies on lies
revenge plots
all the suspense
domestic thrillers

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
the plot was unique
The suspense made me not want put the book down

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
too twisty at the end
got a little repetitive

Wow, I REALLY enjoyed this new thriller from Darby Kane! There are a lot of twists, but they all make sense rather than feeling forced or completely out of left field, as some thrillers can be prone to doing. I really enjoyed the main character, Addison, and her growth throughout the story. All of the characters felt dynamic and real. They were complicated, much like people in everyday life are, and that was refreshing, as lately I have read too many books with one-note characters. The ending, while a bit predictable, still comes together in a way that is engaging and will keep you guessing who is responsible for which acts. I highly recommend this for a quick, fun thriller with a little more depth than the usual Frieda M book offers.