DARBY KANE IS AN AUTO BUY AUTHOR FOR ME!!!!!!! I have absolutely loved every single book , what the wife knew has been a favorite but I think this has topped that now!!!

This is my favorite Darby Kane book by far! The suspense started right away and kept me turning the pages to try and find out what happened to the Tanner family. As the novel progressed, you learned that not everything was what is seems with the affluent family and there are multiple characters who would rather the mystery surrounding the disappearance NOT be solved. The story is told from multiple characters' perspectives and the twist at the end was unexpected!

So this is my second book by Darby Kane, the first being Pretty Little Wife (which I absolutely devoured as quickly as my fingers could flip the pages) and I have to say, she may be a new favorite author of mine!

Such a Clever Girl starts off with the death of the town eccentric in Sleepy Hollow, a town known for the Headless Horseman tale but also for the mysterious disappearance of an entire family over a decade ago, who just so happen to be the son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren of said deceased town eccentric, Xavier Tanner. HOWEVER, Aubrey Tanner, the previously missing troubled (but preferring misunderstood) daughter from the famous disappearance, has suddenly reappeared at the will hearing for her grandfather and she is not about to let the three women who were at her house the night her family went missing forget that night.

There's so much to love about this book. I loved the character of Aubrey and her POV's in the book. It felt like she was a shady little puppeteer controlling the three women from behind the scenes and I couldn't get enough of it. The plot itself had me furiously flipping pages. I was so engrossed in the story and the Tanner family. Speaking of the Tanner family, who could've given the Thrombey family from Knives Out a run for their money, holy secrets, Batman! I would love a whole prequel book just on this family from before the disappearance living in their sprawling manors manipulating, cheating, and just being rich, narcissistic creeps.

So that being said, the only thing that kept this book from being a 5 was that the three main characters, Stella, Hannah, and Marni, kind of blended together for me. I didn't get their individual voices as much as I would have liked. Particularly Marni, she just felt a bit 2-dimensional at times and I would've loved to dig more into her motivations.

I still loved this and will definitely be picking up more by Darby Kane!

3.5 stars. Set in Sleepy Hollow, NY, SUCH A CLEVER GIRL focuses on four women who are involved in the secrets of a family that disappeared fifteen years ago -

* Hanna owns a local coffee shop and is a former employee of the father, Patrick
* Stella is a therapist and cousin of the family
* Marni is a teacher and the former best friend of the missing mother, Victoria
* Aubrey is the thirty-year-old daughter of the missing family who returns home after the death of her wealthy grandfather, Xavier

The mystery surrounding the family’s disappearance is woven into several current mysteries that unfold following the reading of Xavier’s will. While the story overall was a page-turner, the anxious, unlikable characters and convoluted plot made me frustrated.

This is my second book by Darby Kane. I discovered this author through my book club, and enjoy her writing style and twisty plots. While I enjoyed WHAT THE WIFE KNEW more than this one, Kane is still on my list of must-read authors.

Such a Clever Girl makes for a clever book, a mystery thriller with intense family drama thrown in. The book follows multiple POVs- Marni, Hanna, and Stella as they collectively try to find out who murdered the Tanner family. When Aubrey (the 4th POV) returns after her assumed death, the women become threatened and feel the pressure of solving this crime. There were lots of twists and turns in this story, however the pace was a lot slower than I typically enjoy. The 4 POVs did get confusing In the beginning and I at times struggled to follow who was who. All in all this was a fun read and I’m grateful for the ARC. Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and Harper Collins for the opportunity!

This was my first time having a wish granted, and I’m so sorry to say that I just did not enjoy this book. I had a hard time getting into it and learning who the many characters were. I had to make a note in my phone in order to keep everyone straight, and the story just didn’t work for me. I didn’t enjoy any of the characters and just didn’t really care about what happened to them.

I’ve read Darby Kane books in the past that I really enjoyed, but unfortunately this wasn’t one of them for me.

A huge thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you're ready to read a true mystery, then this book is for you! I was so captivated from the very first chapter. Audrey has come back from the dead after her family, including her, went missing years ago, and now she's back! This book flips between multiple main characters, but I found it definitely made the story more interesting. What happened the night Audrey's family went missing, and who in the small town is at fault? Great mystery and a very fast book to read! Loved!

I will read anything Darby Kane writes! This thriller delivers nonstop tension and a plot that never lets up. The stakes are high, the pacing is brisk, and every chapter ends with a gasp-worthy surprise. The main character is both relatable and resourceful, drawing you deeper into the danger with each decision. The atmosphere is perfectly ominous, setting the stage for a truly unforgettable climax. It’s a gripping, high-octane read from start to finish.

I didn't enjoy the book after reading it. I usually refrain from leaving negative reviews, thinking about the author's hard work and feelings, even when I don't like the book. I delayed finishing the book due to its predictable plot, which I quickly solved. The book resembled a soap opera and could’ve been shorter.

Thank you NetGalley and The William Morrow team for the ARC.

This book was fast-paced and I did not see the end coming. I wanted to keep reading to see who actually committed the murders those 15 years ago, and per usual, I was wrong.

Only downside to this was that were a lot of characters to remember.

Book: Such A Clever Girl
Author: Darby Kane
Publisher: William Morrow
Pub Date: January 20, 2026

The book had me with the name of the town – Sleepy Hollow. I liked it but it didn’t wow me. The book felt slow and repetitive at times but I enjoyed the mystery of the disappearance of the family. But I can’t say I loved how it all came together. Also, there are a lot of characters to keep up with and a lot of moving parts. The premise is solid blending of a domestic thriller with a slowly unraveling core mystery. I loved the atmosphere around the abandoned home but where it fell short was with the pacing, character development because there was so many and the twists were predictable. It gets three stars for a creepy house, gossip fueled town and everyone acting just a little too weird. It’s clever but not mind blowing. This is delivered more like a whisper than a scream.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is January 20, 2026.

Darby Kane's new novel, Such a Clever Girl, has so many twists and turns. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. From murders, to secrets, to mysterious deaths and reappearance, it has it all. 4 stars

I can see how this could be a great familial thriller but the story dragged a little too much for my tastes and it was super predictable. I ended up skimming most of the book just to see if I was right about the ending. I was.

I found this story difficult to dive into. Too many characters telling their story. I found it hard to like the characters and root for any of them. I really liked the first chapter, but the story was difficult to get through after that.

Fifteen years ago a family disappeared. Now Aubrey, the daughter is back. Where had she been? What happened?
Follow along this twisty thriller that will keep you guessing.
This is a gripping, layered thriller about buried trauma, twisted loyalty, and what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden. It’s perfect for fans of domestic suspense with smart, strong women at the center.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I don't know. I really really loved this book. honestly it left me speechless. I don't even know how to write the review because it left me so speechless..

This dragged for me and was hard to follow. Lots of characters involved which made it confusing. I did like the plot though.

Another day, another review 🍃 I was super intrigued by the concept of this one. You know I love a good, decades-long mystery with some badass women trying to discover the truth. It was definitely fun seeing how everything would come together in the end.

I do wish it was a bit more twisty- I definitely guessed the reveal pretty early on. I was hoping for a little more shock value. BUT I still enjoyed it enough and I did appreciate the ending.

A pretty fun story, with interesting characters, I would recommend this one if you’re looking for some good past and present stories with a fun conclusion!

This one sadly did not work for me. I usually love Darby but this would have benefited from being structured differently. The multiple POV are hard to distinguish and the storyline drags. I was hoping it would weave the past with the present to come to a crashing ending but it’s all just present with a lot of repeated scenes from different POV which bogged down the story. Whomp wah

I was super intrigued by this story because it felt like a criminal minds type book. I think the set up was done well and the multiple point of views led for interesting insights and twists and turns. I did feel like the Aubrey character was a bit of a red herring which I guess is part of a thriller, however her impact was not as powerful as I think was anticipated. The twist of the identity of Hanna's son felt a bit predictable and didn't really change the overall narrative of the story. It felt as though there were two storylines going. Xavier and his plot and then Patrick and Victoria's plot. It felt a bit disjointed and disconnected however I was still entertained but the ending was a bit lackluster and didn't have that large of an impact. I knew there was some shady behavior for sure with a certain person who is revealed at the end if you know you know. Overall I was super curious like you should be in a good thriller but it overall fell a but flat for me.