I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was already a Darby Kane fan before reading this book, but this solidified her as a "Must Read Author" for me. I was hooked from the first page and flew through this book in two days. I loved how fast paced it was, the surprises along the way, and that it kept me guessing until the very end! Bonus for me: the short chapters & alternating timeline/POVs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I wasn't necessarily planning on reading this book so soon when the pub date is so far away, but I read the first page of this book and I was hooked. I am not sure how I have not read a book by Darcy Kane before, but I am definitely planning on reading more books by her in the future. This book is super addictive and juicy and if you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, then this is the perfect book for you. I can't recommend this book enough.

5 stars +


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A young woman marries an older man, a doctor seen as a hero from a past tragedy. This is no ordinary marriage involving a quickie divorce, suspicions, abuse. He is found dead and the current wife is the main suspect. This book was fast paced and kept me reading to uncover all the secrets.

While it’s hard to like any of the characters in this book, I did eventually end up rooting for Addison, her back story is just so twisted and saddening that you can see why she becomes who she does.
There are too many changes to what one is led to believe the truth is that by the end I had given up caring.
Reading about thoroughly narcissistic people does not bring me joy and I’d rather spend my time elsewhere.
The redemption did not salvage the journey.
Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ebook, this did not impact my review.

I think this book will be uber popular! The plot sounds so good!

From GR:
Darby Kane, author of the #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, returns with another twisty domestic thriller about a wife wondering who tried to kill her husband twice before finally succeeding… because that was supposed to be her job.

Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a renowned pediatric surgeon, an infamous tragedy survivor, and a national hero. He’s also very dead—thanks to a fall down the stairs. His neighbors angrily point a finger at the newest Ms. Dougherty, Addison. The sudden marriage to the mysterious young woman only lasted ninety-seven days, and he’d had two suspicious “accidents” during that time. Now Addison is a very rich widow.

As law enforcement starts to circle in on Addison and people in town become increasingly hostile, sides are chosen with Kathryn, Richmond’s high school sweetheart, wife number one, and the mother of his children, leading the fray. Despite rising tensions, Addison is even more driven to forge ahead on the path she charted years ago…

Determined at all costs to unravel Richmond’s legacy, she soon becomes a target—with a shocking note left on her bedroom You will pay. But it will take a lot more than faceless threats to stop Addison. Her plan to marry Richmond then ruin him may have been derailed by his unexpected death, but she’s not done with him yet.


I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book. My review rating is based on the summary of this book.

, I really liked the main character, and the plot was very unique! This book was so fun to read. I highly recommend for thriller lovers.

This book is a dark thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. This is a quick entertaining read. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely read more. Thanks to netgalley and rhe publisher for an ARC of this book.

This book was really good!! I love Darby Kane, but I went in as unbiased as I could. This plot line was super intriguing, detailed and entertaining. It was fast and had lots going on but was never confusing or unbelievable. There were lots of times where you thought you knew what was going on, but the ending still gives a shock- and is satisfying up until the very end.
The writing is very good and I would definitely recommend this book, and already have. Darby Kane remains a favorite!

Outlier review!
2.5 ⭐️

I was THRILLED to receive a VERY early copy of this book, not due out until December 10, 2024-but unfortunately I wasn’t quite as thrilled with the story.

Dr. Richmond Dougherty was not only a renowned pediatric surgeon, but also an infamous tragedy survivor, and a national hero.

That is-he WAS until an unfortunate fall down the stairs.

And, it doesn’t look good that in the ninety-seven days since marrying the SECOND Mrs. Dougherty, Addison, that he’d had not one, but TWO other suspicious “accidents”.

Now Addison is a VERY rich widow-but one who has been left wondering WHO tried to kill her husband TWICE before succeeding-because that was supposed to be HER job!!

This was an ORIGINAL premise that started out well, unfolding from the very SNARKY first person POV (including inner thoughts) of our main protagonist, Addison. I was “ALL IN” !

Then at 50%, we were privy to a chapter from HIS POV-one of those long conversations where the bad guy confesses his sins so that we have an opportunity to see just how despicable he REALLY was.

AND then things took a turn for the worse…

Addison’s home became a CONSTANT revolving door of uninvited guests, and the entire second half felt like one conversation after another until “what the wife knew” was revealed.

Things became pretty convoluted at this point and the ending made me CRINGE!

Really? WHO would do that??

I think my tastes may just be changing. I still love mystery/suspense but in the last few years, I feel like my love for the PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER may be waning. This genre seems to be getting TOO TWISTY and TOO OTT for me, as authors try to AMP UP the shock value.

Be sure to read a sample of reviews to determine if this one might be a better fit for you!

Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted ARC, provided through NetGalley. These are my candid thoughts.

This book is partially the story of a marriage in name only, with Richmond and Addison as the unhappy couple who hate each other but are stuck with one another. When Richmond is murdered, Addison is a suspect, but she knows the murderer is still at large.

There's a lot going on, from the past and the present. The past is full of family murder, a high school shooting, teenage pregnancy, and medical malpractice. Addison seems like a strong character but her manipulative mother has been calling all the shots. Kathryn is Richmond's first wife, and keeps showing up to throw out zingers at Addison and uses her teenage kids to manipulate Addison.

The story started out strong, but the pacing got bogged down in the last half. Kathryn became such a desperate caricature that she was comical in the melodrama of a climax.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This book was INCREDIBLE! I started it at nearly midnight and had a hard time putting it down to go to bed finally at 230am, only to pick it right back up and devour the rest of it. This is the first book I've ever read by Darby Kane and I'm so impressed with this book!

The twists in this book were incredible! Every time I thought I had something figured out, BAM! A shocking twist to prove that I was incorrect. Lies, betrayal, secrets, blackmailing, murder, assault... You name it and this book probably had it.

Characters: Richmond and Kathryn were absolutely vile. Addison was an interesting character and for awhile I wasn't sure what to think of her but I felt for her as the plot unfolded. Poor Wyatt and Portia caught in the middle of everything. Elias was hilarious and caring.

There's literally nothing to dislike about this book. I loved it and absolutely recommend to any thriller fan! This is one of the top 3 thrillers that I have read this year.

I was absolutely amazed by my initial encounter with Darby Kane's work, and I am confident it will not be my last. "What the Wife Knew" proved to be an utterly captivating thriller that held my attention from the opening page to its conclusion. The narrative was filled with numerous unexpected turns as Addison embarks on a mission to fulfill her mother's desire for vengeance against Richmond Dougherty. In my opinion, the portrayal of dysfunctional families in this novel deserves recognition with a capital D. I highly recommend adding this suspenseful masterpiece to your must-read list.

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC to read and review with my honest opinions.

What The Wife Knew is my first but not my last novel by Darby Kane for sure.
I was hooked from the start! Straight to the drama!
A unique thriller with lots of drama and dysfunctional relationships. Maybe too many twists at the end, and a bit slow past the middle, but I still wanted to keep reading to see what was coming!
I liked Addison's character and the relationships she built with R&K's daughter and Richmond's lawyer, now hers. I was annoyed by Kathryn and her just showing up, and her power to make others do or not do things. (no spoilers here 0))
"Her plan to marry Richmond then ruin him may have been derailed by his unexpected death, but she's not done with him yet."
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the
ARC #netgalley #whatthewifeknew set to publish Dec. 10, 2024

Darby Kane is one of my must read authors and once again she has a hit on her hands! She kept me guessing as Addison was trying to figure out if her husaband's fatal fall was an actual accident or done on purpose.

4.4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This started out so great. Then a little after halfway over it deflated. One thing that was a little annoying throughout was Addisons repetitive inner monologue, like we got it the first time girly. But I could over look that. I enjoyed watching her kind of stumble her way through her own “investigation” while trying to clear her name. I really liked Elias’s character and I wish more was done with him at the end. Aside from him and the kids everyone else sucked. Lol. I’m also left kind of confused by the Detective. I’m not sure I understand his motives so if anyone has any theories let me know. Now where the story kind of tapered off for me was the excessive “twists”. Like we didn’t need the twist to twist 3 different times. I just don’t feel it was necessary. The first one was lien ok, I see the vision. The second one made semi sense and I could work with. But the third and final one was just meh. It felt like piling on for shock factor but nobody was shocked by that point because we’d already went through this a couple of pages before. Lizzy was crazy pants and I wouldn’t have given her anything so she’s lucky it was Addison and not me. 🤣 All in all it was a good book and I’d definitely recommend it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Darby Kane has become one of my go-to authors for domestic thrillers, and her latest novel, What the Wife Knew, exemplifies why. The book takes off at a breakneck pace, drawing you in with its addictive storyline from the get-go. You feel like a silent observer as Addison, the recently married wife of the renowned Dr. Richmond Dougherty, grapples with the question of whether her husband's fatal fall was accidental or intentional. With numerous individuals harboring ill intentions towards him, including Addison herself, the tension and suspense are expertly woven into the narrative. I found myself completely immersed in the novel, devouring its pages as I was continually blindsided by the masterfully crafted twists and turns. What the Wife Knew is undoubtedly a 5-star read that I wholeheartedly recommend to all thriller fans.

What The Wife Knew is a psychological thriller. Instead of the usual wife on the run from an abusive husband, this wife stays in the house where danger is all around her. The book is told in 2 voices and with multiple time jumps. Most chapters are titled Her, with date information included. There are a few chapters titled Him, which can only be called whining, His chapters are designed to fill in some gaps, but I found the Him chapters to be an interruption.

There are some moral questions worth considering in this most recent Darby Kane thriller. What The Wife Knew questions whether the murder of an evil man is an event worth mourning. He leaves behind an ex-wife, who fulfills every ex-wife trope out there, and two children who are definitely wise beyond their years. The heroine protagonist is likable. There are some interesting themes about parental responsibility and family love, none of which actually seem to be present in this novel. It is a bit discouraging that the only family units readers meet are destructive. The ending is rather disappointing, with too much piled up in it, and with one twist too many. Otherwise, What The Wife Knew is a novel that will likely appeal to readers.

Thank you to Darby Kane, publishers William Morrow, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The comments above are what I honestly think about What The Wife Knew.

Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, William Morrow, #partner, for an advanced e-copy of What the Wife Knew in exchange for my honest review.

Since reading, and absolutely loving The Engagement Party by Darby Kane, I became an instant fan and was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of her newest book, due out later this year. And let me just say…this one might be my new favorite!

I love domestic thrillers and this is exactly why. I was pulled in from the beginning and found myself completely engaged and unable to walk away until I reached the last page. To steal a line from the story, this is a book where it is a “game where the rules keep changing” and not only do I totally agree, but I could not have loved it more! And to that point, it’s so hard to say much without getting into spoiler territory!

The complexity of the characters makes you unsure of who can be trusted, included our main protagonist, Addison. I found myself constantly wondering just who was behind the death of Richmond all the way until the very end. The twists kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly re-adjusting what I thought I knew.

I may only have read two of Darby Kane’s books so far, but I can say with complete confidence that I will be reading anything and everything she writes, including her backlist. She is definitely a master at her craft!!!

Another fun one by Darby Kane. Seems all the twisted plots come together...but you never figure them out in advance. Quick and fun read