Secrets, Chaos & Clever Girls: A Twisty Web of Lies That Delivers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

Fifteen years ago, the Tanner family vanished—leaving behind a bloody doorway, a half-eaten meal, and a raging fire that destroyed their business. Their home was left untouched, a time capsule of fear and speculation. The town moved on… until Aubrey Tanner returns.

Now 30, Aubrey is silent about her past. Was she a victim—or does she hold the truth? As three women (a teacher, a café owner, and a psychologist) find their own secrets tangled in the Tanner mystery, another disappearance sends shockwaves through town. The past is coming for all of them… and someone may kill again to keep it buried.


This wasn’t my first ARC, but it was my very first NetGalley ARC—yay! And what a start. This was also my first Darby Kane novel, and I can safely say it won’t be my last. The title, the cover, and especially the mysterious teaser on the cover drew me in immediately. I just had to request it. That said, I went in blind.

From the very first scene, the drama and chaos are palpable. You’re thrown straight into the mystery, no warm-up—just a gripping dive into what happened, why, and who knows more than they’re saying. And while I loved that intensity, I didstruggle initially to keep track of the characters. There are many introduced early on, which made it difficult to focus on the plot and enjoy the unraveling tension. I had to really focus and refer back often. If the book had opened with only one or two POVs in the first few chapters, I think I would’ve settled in more quickly. That said, the story is told in first-person POV from four narrators—Stella, Marni, Hanna, and Aubrey—each bringing their own secrets, perspective, and emotional depth to the unraveling mystery.

Once I found my footing (around 15–30% in), the story began to flow, and I became fully invested. Aubrey’s chapters were my favorite—full of intrigue and emotional depth. Hanna had phenomenal character development. Her growth through the novel was impressive and felt authentic. A true example of a mother’s love and fierce resilience. Isabel? Total drama queen. So entitled, and unlikable. Stella, the psychologist, didn’t quite live up to the expectations the other characters (and I) had for her, but that just showed how flawed she was.

The more I read, the more impressed I became with how tightly plotted this book is. The suspense was thick and steady. I was over halfway through before I had any real theories—Darby Kane kept me guessing. The plot is intricate, layered with past and present tension, family secrets, small-town gossip, and psychological twists. It gave me strong Murder on the Orient Express vibes—not in setting, but in structure. Everyone is a suspect. Everyone is connected. And no one is clean.

This is a book full of secrets, slow reveals, and a mounting sense of dread. The writing is sharp, the pacing steady (after the initial bump), and the payoffs satisfying. The way Darby Kane built and executed this plot clearly shows a ton of research, character work, and timeline coordination. It would make an incredible limited TV series. Honestly, I hope someone adapts it, and soon!

Now that I’ve read this, I’m adding all of Darby Kane’s backlist to my TBR.

My verdict:
This is a rich, character-driven psychological thriller with secrets, blackmail, and buried truths. If you enjoy layered family drama, multiple POVs, and a small-town mystery packed with tension and misdirection—Such a Clever Girl belongs on your list.

✨ 4.5 stars from me. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is because of the initial character overload that made it harder to connect right away.

Thank you to author Darby Kane, William Morrow Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. It was a joy and privilege to read this book in advance.

All opinions are entirely my own.

I’ve tried other books by this author in the past and liked them, this one just fell a bit flat for me. I don’t feel like the characters were fleshed out enough to make care about them, and the writing felt a little clunky.

"Such a Clever Girl" follows the unraveling of a family disappearance after the daughter, presumed dead, returns to her hometown 15 years after the night her mother, father, and nine year old brother were never heard from again. The book switches perspectives between several women who knew the family and, presumably, played a role in what happened that night.

This book was full of surprising reveals and had a kind of cozy backdrop that contrasted nicely with the dark nature of the story. Despite the intricately woven web of intrigue, it was an easy read - perfect for a plane trip or vacation.

Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars. I had high hopes for this one, but it was too much like a locked room mystery for me. I also kept getting the characters mixed up.