Darby Kane's previous release was a miss for me so I was a bit nervous about What The Wife Knew. I'm happy to say that this one was a hit! This is a fast paced domestic thriller full of morally gray characters and twists galore! I was hooked from start to finish! I paired the ebook and audio and the narration from Helen Laser and Andrew Elden was very well done.

What the Wife Knew … and also what she didn’t know! Holy moly! Just when you think you know what’s going on, there are more revelations. This book is full of messed up people … nobody is extremely likable. Does anyone care about anyone else besides themselves? Despite the main character, Addison, being an odd person, I did root for her to be happy and successful. But does she know what she needs to be content? Does anybody? This would be a good book club choice because there are so many driving factors behind people’s actions. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC.

3.5⭐️

This was twisty, entertaining, intriguing and full of drama, suspense and flair. I liked the short chapters, dual POVs and the way the timeline was written.

This follows the story of Addison, who is accused of killing her husband, and the ensuing messy revelations that followed.

I enjoyed how the author crafted the suspense and the winding plot. Nothing was given away early or easily. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t even know what to expect anymore.

Full of a cast of morally gray characters, this psychological thriller/ family drama delivers much more than a soap opera. It features complex family relationships and dynamics, blackmail, betrayal and revenge.

The ending was a bit ish and appeared a bit hurried. But I would still recommend this.

I don’t know why I waited so long to get around to this one, but it was SO MUCH FUN! The main character’s snarkiness is a HOOT and a HALF! That and the short chapters that ended on cliffhangers kept me turning the pages as fast as possible. The ending has a couple hiccups, but this one is a winner in my book!

This is my 3rd book by Darby Kane and it kept me on my toes the whole entire 368 pages. Yes I felt it a little long but holy cow, the lies, secrets, revenge - it was all there the whole time!! Lots to still process. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this release. It’s publication day today! It’s a great thriller with twists and turns, especially at the end.

This had some vibes of The Last Mrs. Parrish--a book I loved!--so I was excited to read this. Addison is married to Richmond only a few months when he's found dead. The town thinks she killed him, and she would have, but someone got to him first.
*
This is a fast read, with short chapters and flashbacks, and a couple changes in POV. And lots of secrets!
*
Every character comes off as truly terrible at first (which is not a problem for me, but some people don't like that), but Addison really grew on me and I was really rooting for her by the end. The climax felt a bit long, and one major twist was not all that surprising and another was just...icky.
*
Overall, a solid thriller!

Darby Kane delivers an enthralling ride in What the Wife Knew, a mystery thriller packed with relentless twists and turns. True to her reputation for crafting intricate plots, Kane weaves a tale that keeps readers guessing at every turn, making trust and truth elusive commodities throughout the story.

The novel thrives on its ability to upend expectations. Each twist feels purposeful, elevating the tension and layering the narrative with intrigue. The shifting dynamics between characters ensure that readers are constantly reevaluating their assumptions. This uncertainty is where the novel excels—it keeps you in a state of suspense, cycling through theories only to have them upended by the next revelation.

Kane’s deft handling of pacing is another strength. The story never feels bogged down, instead accelerating toward its crescendo while maintaining a tight grip on the plot’s logic. The suspense is heightened by the author’s ability to make every character seem suspicious, a hallmark of well-executed thrillers.

For fans of the genre, What the Wife Knew is a standout entry that demonstrates Kane’s mastery of suspense and storytelling. With its tightly coiled tension and ever-shifting alliances, this book will leave you second-guessing everyone—and eager to see how it all unravels.

Verdict: A gripping and twisty thriller that demands your full attention. Kane’s ability to manipulate trust and uncertainty makes this a must-read for mystery enthusiasts.

This book had all the good plot points for a thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the twists and came to really like the main character even though she was flawed. This book follows Addison, whom married a man who winds up dead. The thing is, Addison wanted to be the one to kill and destroy him, but someone beat her to it. Now, she is a suspect in the murder, and she didn't do it; so who did? Twists. secrets, lies, and past relationships come in to play in unraveling this story.
While some twists were predictable. others were surprising and I enjoyed this thriller! Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book.

Kane is a must read author for me and this was another twisty treat! This has some seriously messed up families that were an absolutely delight to read about and not be a part of. There was so much scheming throughout that you didn’t know who to trust. I loved trying to work out what was going to happen - the ending was exactly what the book needed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Darby Kane. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a renowned surgeon, a tragedy survivor and hero. He's also dead after a fall down the stairs. His very sudden marriage to much younger Addison is only 97 days old, so all fingers point to her, now that she is a wealthy widow. But someone killed Richmond before Addison had the chance to do it herself.

This was such twisty fun! I loved Addison's snarky, dark humor, and her smart thinking and planning. There are a host of questionable subjects, unlikeable characters, dysfunctional family relationships, and secrets galore - my kind of book! The story unfolds through the POV of "Her" and "Him," both in the past and present. It's suspenseful, perfectly plotted, with short chapters that will keep you turning the pages until that crazy ending.

"What The Wife Knew" uses my favorite type of main character: a sarcastic, tough, cunning, and vigilant woman with more secrets than dreams. Addison is the second wife to America's favorite hero doctor. She's got a man and a plan... until she's left with only the plan when her husband is murdered. This book is a slow churning mystery, with reveals sprinkled along the way. Themes included family secrets, cutthroat ambitions, and public masks. Storytelling was done through dual perspectives, "her" and "him", both of which were effective. The plot also loosely featured some current news events, which kept the storyline relevant and interesting

What the Wife Knew
What a ride thank you William Morrow, Darby Kane and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

If you like a domestic thriller this one is for you. The Characters Addison and Richmond both have their secrets, but someone eventually gets it.
It definitely kept me guessing and to keep going until the end!
I will for sure be reading more from the author after this awesome book.

#WhattheWifeKnew #NetGalley 🕵🏽‍♀️

97 days after Addison married Dr. Richmond Dougherty; he is dead. As a well known pediatric surgeon, tragedy survivor, and hero; Richmond is highly thought of by his neighbors, coworkers, family, and his patient's families. When the admirable doctor is found at the bottom of the stairs dead after a quick and short marriage to his new wife, fingers are quickly pointed at her. Was the fall an accident or was he pushed? Addison only has one thing on her mind, ruin the man she married even in his death.
Review: 3.5 stars
If you like family drama, revenge plots, questionable morals, and lots of twists and turns; this one will definitely be for you! It is a quick and bingeable popcorn thriller! I had a clear idea of where I thought it was going and I was completely wrong (love that)! I will say, there were certain parts that seemed drawn out, at least for me. I wasn't super invested in any of the characters. I really enjoyed the ending with all the twists and turns, it was definitely entertaining and had me saying, "WHATTT???"
What the Wife Knew is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Darby Kane, and William Morrow for this ARC of What the Wife Knew in exchange for an honest review!

I love Darby Kane’s writing! I always get so excited to read any book by her. Her latest, #WhattheWifeKnew didn’t let me down!

Secrets abound when the story of Addison & Richmond unravels throughout in the present & flashing back to the past. This one is a great one!

Synopsis: Addison’s husband was murdered, and she is the number one suspect. The only problem is that she didn’t do it - someone else beat her to it.

Thoughts: This domestic thriller is full of dark secrets and twisty family relationships. I’m not the best at predicting endings, but I think this would throw anyone for a loop! If you’re into psychological thrillers with totally untrustworthy characters, definitely check this out.

Read this if you like:
🔎 whodunnits
🔎 unreliable characters
🔎 family drama
🔎 domestic thrillers

4/5 stars

Thank you William Morrow Paperbacks for the advanced reading copy!

This book started and ended SO STRONG, but lost me a little bit in the middle, as it started to feel repetitive. I was, however, willing to push through after being intrigued from the start by the clever premise, and I'm glad I did. I always love a dual perspective and/or POV book, and this did not miss in that way. There were really great twists throughout that kept me going. The FMC was great, and I loved (sometimes loved to hate) the supporting characters. This one kept me guessing a lot of the time, and it was a super fun, solid thriller overall.

Richmond Dougherty is a famous pediatric surgeon with an interesting past - as a teenager he survived the killings of his parents and his brother. When he falls down the stairs in his home and dies, just 97 days after marrying Addison, all hell breaks loose. The first Mrs. Dougherty, Kathryn, the mother of Richmond’s children, is fixated on getting her hands on the substantial estate he left behind. But Addison has many secrets of her own, not the least of which is why she married Richmond in the first place. As is so often the case, the investigating detective has zeroed in on a suspect - Addison. But there is so much more to the story, including Addison’s mother who has been manipulating her daughter for years. When Addison is threatened - “You Will Pay’ is painted on her bedroom wall - she must protect herself from an unknown but obviously dangerous person or persons. There are NO likable characters in this book as everyone has their own secrets. That being said, the twists and turns of the story will keep you attention throughout. Told in alternating chapters from the viewpoint of Addison and Richmond (mostly Addison though) and in varying timelines from the present to the long ago past, this novel will grab you from the first page. My thanks to Dutton Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

What a twisted story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I had to know what happened next. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much for this ARC William Morrow Publishing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

🤗Thank you so much to @williammorrowbooks for sending me an ARC and finished copy!

📖Title: What the Wife Knew
✍️Author: Darby Kane
📅Pub Date: December 10, 2024 (TODAY)

📖This is my third book by Darby Kane and all three of them have been fun, but this was BY FAR my favorite one yet!

🚪The reason why it was my favorite yet is because it was absolutely BONKERS 😮😮 LIKE BONKERS. If you want the craziest and most unhinged domestic thriller, make sure you grab this one!

👀There's not much I can say without spoiling things, but just know that my jaw HIT THE FLOOR at certain parts and you will NOT know what's coming 👀👀

You won't be able to put this one down!! Highly recommend!

Loved loved loved this book! Great character development and found the plot super interesting and new! I read a lot in this genre and felt this storyline was refreshing. 5 stars from me!