Triple wow once again! This book really gave my brain cells a workout with its hurling twists and complex dysfunctional family relationships that I needed to fully absorb. I can honestly say that this has become my favorite Darby Kane novel to date! I've enjoyed her previous works as well, and interestingly, I've never been keen on reading psychological thrillers focused on unlikable and unreliable characters. However, this time, I can make an exception because this book is just too intelligent and deliciously intriguing, even though most of the characters cannot be considered decent human beings and are mostly despicable entities disguised in human furs, including the victim, Richmond Dougherty, whose innocence becomes hard to define as his past is revealed throughout the chapters. Before reading his point of view, we already get a picture of this narcissistic, cheating, manipulative man who would go to extreme lengths to secure a win.

Now, let's delve into the main plot, which mostly revolves around Addison, only 27 years old and an unlucky widow of Dr. Richmond Dougherty, who passed away after only being married for 97 days, which felt like an eternity of entitlement. A survivor of a school shooting at a young age and hailed as a hero for saving his fellow student friends at the expense of stopping his own brother, Richmond was a shining star as a pediatric surgeon, with everyone singing his praises. When he leaves his longtime wife, Kathryn, to marry his younger wife, Addison, nobody blames him except the second wife, who may have been manipulated into a forged marriage. After his death under suspicious circumstances, questions arise within the community, loyal to Richmond and his first wife Kathryn, who has deep connections in society and the police squad. Kathryn plays the martyr card from the beginning, pointing fingers at the second wife as a person of interest.

Addison knows two things for sure: she despises Richmond Dougherty, whom she was forced to marry as part of a revenge plan that turned into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game until the end, and she is not the person who killed him.

She is also certain of two more things: she must find the killer before the biased police officers, influenced by Kathryn's statements, throw her behind bars, and she must carry out her plan to tarnish Richmond Dougherty's reputation. But how can she accomplish this dangerous task when Richmond's enemies are closing in to take a piece of him, and someone is obviously targeting her to silence the secrets she knows? Everyone in town wants to see her fail, including Richmond's ex-wife and two elder kids. And another opponent decides to reveal herself, making things even more complicated, as this person is so close to her and may have already ruined her life, leaving Addison with compromised options and the feeling of being trapped in her own inherited mansion.

Overall, this is a smart, riveting page-turner, filled with a web of lies, scheming, and twists that you never see coming. Every character in this book harbors big secrets and hidden agendas, and nobody can be trusted. While you may have questions about Addison's past as a con artist at the beginning, as you learn more about her tragic history, you understand her motivations, and she becomes the only character you may root for amidst the rest of them committing jaw-droppingly despicable acts that would make any decent human being cringe.

I'm awarding this book 5 stars, even though the characters completely irritated me, because the pacing, cohesion, and conclusion of the book were executed perfectly. I truly enjoyed every bit of it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with this addictive thriller's digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

I am obsessed with Darby Kane’s thrillers. The mystery and the intrigue and the unexpected twists leaving me guessing in a really enjoyable way. What The Wife Knew is no exception!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.