Addison has been groomed by her mother since childhood to get her revenge on Richmond Dougherty. Richmond is a celebrated (very wealthy) doctor that is considered a hero for stopping the high school shooting that killed Addison’s father. However, the truth is that Richmond orchestrated the shooting and is no hero. Addison blackmails Richmond into marrying her and forking over all of his assets. When Richmond turns up dead a few months after their marriage, Addison is suspect #1. She isn’t the killer, but who is?

This book was fun and twisty, with a few great surprises. It kept me engaged throughout and I was excited to see how Kane tied it all up.

Thank you to Darby Kane, William Morrow & NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I thought the premise of What The Wife Knew was super-promising. A prominent doctor is dead. His first wife is bereft and his brand new wife is ... glad. But claims she had NOTHING to do with it. This story encompasses a lot of family drama and has a lot of twists and turns.

My main issue with it was that the main character spent most of the story trapped in her house. Other characters came to visit her, and occasionally she'd leave on a "coffee run," but I found that pretty odd.

OMG! WHAT THE WIFE KNEW by Darby Kane has so many twists and turns, especially near the end, that my head is still spinning!

Dr. Richard Dougherty is a celebrated paediatric surgeon who was a national hero 27 years ago at his high school. He married his high school sweetheart and went on to have two children. Were the losses he suffered all those years ago worth $15 million? Out of the blue he divorces sweet Kathryn and quickly marries Addison. The ‘wedded bliss’ only lasts 97 days and now Richard is dead after a fall down the stairs. This newlywed is now newly dead. The town quickly sides with Kathryn in believing that Addison was responsible for his death, after all, this is his third ‘accident’ since the wedding. As the police join in with Kathryn and the town in this thinking, Addison continues on her quest, set out long ago, to ruin Richard and his stellar reputation. You see, Addison had the goods on Richard long ago and set out to meet, marry and mangle his life.

Why did Richard hire Elias, his attorney, to look after Addison if anything were to happen to him? Who left the note of warning on the wall of her bedroom and who continues to threaten her? Why did August Christopher, Richard’s colleague, seem to disappear right after Richard’s death? What does Peter Cullen, whose son died during surgery with Richard, expect from Addison?

This novel was delightfully full of so many twists and turns that I raced through it all the while dreading that it would end. The devious mind of some authors just amazes me. How they put it all together at the end, and what an explosive ending it was! The writing was clear and concise which led to an enjoyable read. I will be anxiously awaiting Darby Kane’s next thriller.

Thank you to netGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, Darby Kane, and William Morrow for the ebook. This was an engaging read that captivated me from the start. A thrilling journey that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

This is my third read by Darby Kane, each one just as thrilling as the last. This is a domestic thriller that kept me turning pages. It contained twists and turns until the very end. If you are looking for a gripping read, I would recommend this one.

This was a 4.5 star read for me. This was a great read. Kane does a great job building the plot and is an incredible story teller. If you like a well-written thriller with lots of twists and unexpected turns, give What the Wife Knew a read. Don't forget to read some of her other books as well. They have all been enjoyable.

HOOK: She hated her husband and now he's dead, but while Addison is not AT ALL mad about him passing, she isn't going to take threats likely. She didn't take it from him; why would she take it from a mysterious unknown?

REVIEW: Whew, I liked this. It was different. Addison was angry, mouthy, and blunt. I love that. Learning about her kept me reading. It was a good female rage at the wheel story.

RATING: 4.5, rounded.

This was such a great thriller. It really kept you questioning everything. It was so twisty and emotional. Darby Kane is so good at keeping you on your toes. Her characters are full of personality and keep me fully invested in the story. Highly recommended if you are looking for a quick thriller that will blow your mind.

I'm true Darby Kane style, this twisted thriller will give you whiplash if you aren't buckled in and hanging on tight! A funeral, possibly the worst mother of all time, secrets, exes, and an ending you couldn't see coming!

Thank you NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'What The Wife Knew' by Darby Kane, in exchange for an honest review - expected release date 12/10/2024

I've read most of Darby Kane's books, they're all pretty similarly written but, even so, this one was a fun read. It was entertaining and I was intrigued right up to the end. I liked Addison and the storyline flowed nicely - I really wanted to see where it went and how everything came together. I didn't see the twist at the end coming, so that was a nice surprise! Overall this was a quick and easy read!

This book is a wild ride. If you love thrillers, this is a must read. Get your copy now, seriously, you will NOT regret it.

This book held my attention from the very first page to the last, I just HAD to know the answers to a million questions.

The story centers around Addison, who marries a rich, surgeon, Richmond, who she despises, and just 97 days later he is dead.

While she would have loved to be his killer, she isn’t, and now she must figure out who did to clear her name. Is it the ex-wife who lost so much? The devastated father, who lost a son during one of Richmond’s surgeries ? Richmond’s business partner? One of his children? Or did Richmond’s past come back to bite him through someone else ?

This book is jam packed with wild surprises and twists and turns.

Thank you so much to William Morrow and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My fourth book by this author and probably my favorite.

Super short chapters for the win. I was intrigued and kept turning the pages to see what would happen. Some good twists until the very end. Rich people behaving badly and secretive pasts. A solid suspense from a trusted author.

As a previous fan of Darby Kane’s books, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of What the Wife Knew, and it did not disappoint. This gripping thriller had me hooked from start to finish. The twists and turns were relentless, keeping me guessing at every chapter. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story shifted, and I was left questioning everything.
One of the standout features of the book was the dual POV, which was introduced a little further into the story. It added depth and complexity to the narrative, making it even harder to know who to trust. The pacing was absolutely perfect — there wasn’t a single lull. Every scene felt purposeful, building the tension and driving the story forward.
The characters were equally compelling. At times, I wasn’t sure how to feel about them, which only made me more invested in their journeys. The moral ambiguity kept me engaged, and I found myself racing toward the conclusion. In fact, I was so captivated that I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting.
Darby Kane has once again delivered a twist-filled thriller that keeps readers on edge until the final page. Highly recommended!

Highly promising premise and some great love-to-hate characters had me turning pages into the night. A revenge plot from the get-go, What The Wife Knew faltered with the over the top antics or plot twists but for some, that is the best part.

A young hot woman, Addison, sets up a prominent, successful Pediatric Surgeon (oh and a school shooting hero) in an attempt of exacting revenge for his past wrongs. The wrongs are parsed out and we learn he is a despicable human being. When the snake in the grass is found dead, Addison is set up for the fall. The problem is she didn't kill him but it had been part of her plan of revenge. - Female Rage is in and im here for it!

Addison's set up for the revenge is a really far reach. I mean really far. Her being there with the good doctor was at the behest of her hideous mother. It really was the mother's revenge to be had. Addison is surrounded by the detritist of her dead husband, ie., ex-wife, teen kids, attorney, partners of the practice, and of course, the local police. I would have enjoyed more reading time with the doctor's screw ups in his practice and the fall out from that in replacement of the constant contact with his ex wife.

For those that enjoy a lot of twists and outrageous reveals, this one might just be the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley, William morrow, and the author for this eArc!

This was such a great book!! Dr. Richmond Dougherty is dead. He fell down the stairs. First ruled an accident, then the cause of death was changed to unknown. The police suspect that it was his new wife that killed him, Addison, but she denies it. Richmond’s first wife, Kathryn, is determined to run Addison out of town and make her pay for ruining her marriage and her life. Addison wants to find Richmond’s real killer, and unravel his legacy. Nothing is what it seems, and most everyone seems to have a secret.

I read Pretty Little Wife back in 2021 and I remember enjoying it, but it’s been a while since I’ve read this author. I have ZERO idea why I haven’t read any of her books between that one and this one! This book was absolutely amazing.

The book starts with the suspense of finding out the secret that Addison holds over Richmond. We find that secret out, but then there’s the mystery of who killed Richmond – was it Addison and is she just being framed, or was it someone else? Then there is another little mystery about Richmond’s career, another one about Addison’s life, one about Kathryn, and probably one I’m forgetting. Then there are the twist, oh the twists. There were quite a few, but they were perfect!!!!

This book has a lot going on, but it’s easy to follow and there is never a dull moment. There’s a great action scene towards the end as well. I could envision it playing out on the screen as well.

Thriller readers, go read this one!

This book started off with a funeral and with a lot of action. You are left guessing what is really happening until about the midpoint of the novel. The pacing stays very fast the whole way through. I read this book within a day because it had me hooked.

When Dr. Richmond Dougherty falls dead after falling down a flight of stairs, it is highly doubtful that it was an accident. His wife of 97 days seems rather suspicious. Her name is Addison and things with their marriage were extremely peculiar. Could their strange marriage have something to do with the death of her husband?

Dr. Dougherty was loaded and now Addison is very rich. Not only is this upsetting to Dougherty’s first wife, but to his children as well. Addison may not just be unlikeable to his first family, but she presents as unlikeable to readers as well. This just might be the thing that made this book impossible to put down.

Addison’s often irredeemable nature, coupled with the book’s fast-pacing and shocking twists and turns, made it a compelling read. Intriguingly, her disagreeable character contrasts sharply with her strong desire to uncover the truth behind her husband’s disappearance. This story was an exhilarating journey, akin to a speeding train.

Many thanks to William Morrow Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

What a roller coaster ride! The start of this book had me absolutely gripped. I loved the snarky first person POV from Addison, Richmond’s widow. Although, you’ll be questioning why these two were married because they do not get along at all. The alternating timelines piece together the backstory and why they’re constantly at war with each other.

At about the halfway mark, this story gets rather bizarre and over the top – which coming from me says a lot. This psychological thriller will give you whiplash. The twists were just so unbelievable and it felt like they were thrown in just for shock value.

As a side note, I’m not sure I’ve ever HATED a character more than Addison’s mom.

Overall, what started off with a bang and a thriller I could not put down spiraled off the deep end. While memorable, I can’t say I particularly liked it, which is a bit disappointing since at first I thought I had a 5-star read on my hands.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

When a scorned woman sets out to destroy a man you'd better look out. Everyone in her path better look out. She won't be stopped. And if there are possibly two scorned women it's murder...

Dr Richmond Dougherty has a few secrets. He has a lifetime of secrets. Seems he has left a few disgruntled people in the wake of his death or possible murder. Maybe an ex-wife. An old lover. Or the parent of a child. Someone was out to kill Dr Dougherty. There were a few people who held a grudge against the popular and much loved Dr Richmond Dougherty. One killed him.

Addison has a lot on the good doctor. So much that he marries her after she threatens to go public with his secrets. And he has many secrets. So many. Addison has had a tough life. Her mother is about as sorry as they come when it comes to being there for her daughter. But is this marriage an act for herself or for her manipulative mother.

Kathryn, who is wife number one and Richmond's highschool sweetheart has a lot to lose with this marriage. She has many secrets of her own though and will do anything to keep them. She has two children with Richmond. Though Kathryn and Richmond seem to be horrible people their children come across as good kids.

Then we have the family lawyer. What is his role in all of this. Does he have secrets? Can you actually trust anyone in this family? What happens once you open this book is a very good thriller. A good who done it. It's got a few things going on and a few secrets will be revealed.

I really enjoyed this book even though I did figure it out. That did not take away from it in any way though. It's excellent.

Thank you #NetGalley, #WilliamMorrowPublishing, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4.5-5 stars.

Her inclination has always been to run from trouble…

…but this time she is staying to see things through.

To the outside world Addison Dougherty had it all. Famed pediatric surgeon Richmond Dougherty divorced his high school sweetheart wife and left his two children to marry her, and together they moved into the huge new home that his ex Kathryn had handpicked for herself but never got to inhabit. Of course the community where they live has pretty much decided that Addison is a gold-digging home-wrecker and reserved their sympathy for Kathryn, which made going out for a coffee awkward. Richmond, who survived an horrific tragedy in his teens that turned him into a beloved national figure, escaped much of the ill feeling directed at Addison. The whirlwind romance that many have imagined could not have been further from reality…there was only hatred and anger between Addison and Richmond, and it was just a matter of time before one of them killed the other. When Richmond turns up dead everyone assumes that Addison killed him, but she has a solid alibi…but the town’s (and especially Kathryn’s) hostility towards her ratchets up even more. It’s hard to prove yourself innocent of killing someone whom you genuinely wanted dead, especially when you were planning to do so at some point only someone beat you to it. Why did Addison and Richmond marry? What secrets was each keeping from the other, and what damaging information had they dug up on one another? And if Addison didn’t kill Richmond, who did….and why?
If you like your protagonists less than squeaky clean and tough as nails (at least on the surface), then get ready to meet Addison. Her meeting with and marriage to Richmond were planned for a long time, and as the story progresses the reader learns all about her toxic childhood and what it was that Richmond did which merited the revenge Addison was in the process of delivering. Richmond may be a practically saintly figure to the world, but there is far more to him than anyone suspects. With an impeccably groomed but furious ex-wife, two step-children who hate her yet keep arriving at her door, Richmond’s lawyer who claims to be impartial (but is he, really?), and a local detective who is convinced of her guilt, Addison has her work cut out for her if she wants to avoid being arrested for and convicted of murder. Being the trophy wife can be hard to pull off in a town where the first wife is adored, but Addison is more concerned with staying alive than winning a popularity contest. Lots of plot twists will keep the reader guessing right up until the end, and the vivid characters add to the overall enjoyment. Readers of author Darby Kane’s previous novels will find this an engaging read, as will fans of authors like Liv Constantine, Carol Goodman and Jaime Lynn Hendricks. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for allowing me early access to What the Wife Knew in exchange for my honest review.