Are you in a book club? For as much as I read each year, you’d probably be surprised to hear that I’ve never had much luck with them. I’ve taken part in virtual discussions, read the same books as friends, but I’ve never officially joined a club. That changed recently when a co-worker invited me to take part in a new club they’d started. At first, I wasn’t sure I could commit to a monthly discussion, but then I learned the group would focus exclusively on thrillers. I was in. This month’s pick is What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane.
Addison’s marriage was brief and unexpected. Everyone who knew Dr. Richmond Daugherty was surprised when the renowned pediatric surgeon married the much younger Addison, his second wife. They were even more surprised when, just 97 days later, he died after a mysterious fall down the stairs, leaving his grieving young bride the sole beneficiary of his fortune. Suspicion immediately falls on Addison. After all, there had already been two suspicious “accidents” before this one. And if Addison’s being honest, she hadn’t married for love. No—she always intended to get revenge and take down this powerful man. His untimely death may have altered her plans, but she’s far from finished with the late doctor.
Then there’s Kathryn, Richmond’s first wife and the mother of his children. From the start, she suspects Addison’s involvement and leads the charge to convince authorities of her guilt. But are Kathryn’s motives as pure as they seem? What really caused her marriage to fall apart in the first place? As the layers of this tangled drama unfold, it becomes clear that no one here is innocent. Family, love, and revenge all collide in dangerous ways. Only one thing is certain. You won’t see the ending coming.
In What the Wife Knew, Darby Kane delivers a psychological thriller packed with twists, time jumps, and shifting perspectives. I’ll admit, when I first started listening to the audiobook, I found myself hitting rewind more than once just to keep track. Many of the key players are women with personal vendettas against the deceased Richmond Daugherty, and their voices can blur together, especially in audio format. I imagine the story would be easier to follow in print—something to keep in mind if you’re considering how to read it.
That said, the pacing is relentless. Kane keeps the reader intentionally off-balance, jumping from one scene to the next as she constructs a layered mystery that only clicks into place once the final piece is revealed. Each character operates with self-serving motives, and even the victim proves to be deeply unsympathetic. As a result, there’s no real moral center or character to root for, which, for me, brought the book down a notch.
Still, I’d be lying if I said the final quarter didn’t have me hooked. Revelation after revelation hits in rapid succession, and though the ending feels a little abrupt after all that buildup, it’s still an undeniably gripping ride. It may not be my favorite thriller of all time, but it’s certainly a fun, twisty one. I’m looking forward to unpacking it with my book club later this month.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 48)
