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books_and_things 's review for:
What the Wife Knew
by Darby Kane
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an audiobook that I ripped right through it. It was interesting and definitely kept reality at bay for a few hours. Sometimes, that's all you need! It was the perfect little escape into a domestic thriller.
Addison, the newest Mrs. Dougherty, is at the center of an investigation when national hero Dr. Richard Dougherty takes a tumble down the stairs and ends up very dead. Fortunately for Addison, she is suddenly very wealthy and does not have to deal with her husband anymore. Unfortunately for her, their 97-day marriage, which was tumultuous as is, lands her as a prime suspect for the murder, a town pariah, and the center of the ex-Mrs. Dougherty's wrath.
This book is definitely fast paced, full of complex characters, and a plethora of secrets. The pacing is steady throughout, and I found the ending to be worth the payout and deserving of the built-up tension. People be crazy in this one, and I ate it UP! The plot is intricate without being convoluted, and it is a relatively short cast of characters, so it feels easy to track everything that is happening. We do have flashbacks in this book, so if a moving timeline isn't for you, you may want to skip it.
You will enjoy this book if you vibe with the "eat the rich" mentality. The plot is essentially to destroy the wealthy man's life, and I personally can stand by that. If you like snarky main characters, secrets upon secrets, cover-ups, betrayal, and complex storylines, this one is for you. The ending is a bit wild, but I found the payoff worth it. If you need your book endings to be neat, you may want to skip this one.
Addision was sarcastic as hell and I freaking loved her. She was smart and a bit broken but I absolutely found her likeable. You know who is not likeable?? THE MOMS!!! NO HAPPY ALMOST MOTHER DAYS TO THESE BITCHES. Oufffff. Addison's mom, if possible, was way worse than Mrs. Dougherty. My jaw dropped when she outlined her whole plan at the end. How f*cked up was that?!
She made up this whole story to seem like the good guy (well, ish), and in reality, she was just a scheming, vengeful human. I can normally stand by scheming, vengeful women, but when she sets up her daughter to be married to HER FATHER, and sacrifices Addison's emotional, mental, and physical safety all for a shot at some money, I was done. Cannot stand behind this peach of a human. What terrible mothers all around just messing up their kids for selfish gains. I was mad!!