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The Wife Deserved It
Darby Kane, author of #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, delivers an unputdownable domestic thriller novella in which a man has laid the foundation for the perfect murder... or so he thinks.
Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.
His wife has to die.
Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.
Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him.
Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.
His wife has to die.
Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.
Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2025
43 people are currently reading
1613 people want to read
About the author
Darby Kane
11 books1,874 followersDarby Kane is a former divorce lawyer with a dual writing personality. Her debut thriller, PRETTY LITTLE WIFE, was a Book Of The Month pick, #1 international bestseller, and has been optioned for a television series. She also writes romantic suspense and romantic mysteries as HelenKay Dimon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
October 19, 2025
Opening with a bang, we have Reid stalking around the house looking for his wife Anna, with the intent to kill her. (Yes, this book literally hits the floor running.) Anna, however, is playing her own game, and when Reid’s side piece enters the picture, the plan quickly goes wrong.
The POV shifts between past and present, and it really shapes the whole storyline. The book may be short, but it’s mighty. The pace stays strong and the tension is intense throughout. I’m honestly amazed at what was achieved with so few pages!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.
The POV shifts between past and present, and it really shapes the whole storyline. The book may be short, but it’s mighty. The pace stays strong and the tension is intense throughout. I’m honestly amazed at what was achieved with so few pages!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.
November 26, 2025
4⭐
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ Michigan
Publication date ~ October 21, 2025
Publisher ~ Harper Audio
Est Page Count ~ ? (25 chapters)
Audio length ~ 2 hours 33 minutes
Narrators ~ Johnathan McClain, Eva Kaminsky
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ nice twist
Reid seems like a typical douchy hub right off the bat. Everything is his wife, Anna's, fault, so naturally it's time for her die.
Here's how it's broken down:
~ about him ~ now
~ about them ~ then
~ about her ~ now
~ about her ~ then
~ today
I forgot this was a novella, so when I got to the end I wondered if I'd fallen asleep and missed something, but nope it just had an interestingly good ending. Can't say too much else honestly or I fear I'll give something away.
Narration notes:
They both did great. He gave the character a cocky tone, which suited well.
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ Michigan
Publication date ~ October 21, 2025
Publisher ~ Harper Audio
Est Page Count ~ ? (25 chapters)
Audio length ~ 2 hours 33 minutes
Narrators ~ Johnathan McClain, Eva Kaminsky
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ nice twist
Reid seems like a typical douchy hub right off the bat. Everything is his wife, Anna's, fault, so naturally it's time for her die.
Here's how it's broken down:
~ about him ~ now
~ about them ~ then
~ about her ~ now
~ about her ~ then
~ today
I forgot this was a novella, so when I got to the end I wondered if I'd fallen asleep and missed something, but nope it just had an interestingly good ending. Can't say too much else honestly or I fear I'll give something away.
Narration notes:
They both did great. He gave the character a cocky tone, which suited well.
October 4, 2025
I did not expect I would enjoy it so much!
Short, but so intense. I'm amazed at how the characters felt immediately believable and how simple but well executed the plot was.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators were amazing.
I was just a two hours book but it was such a great experience.
Thank you HarperAudio for this ARC!
Short, but so intense. I'm amazed at how the characters felt immediately believable and how simple but well executed the plot was.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrators were amazing.
I was just a two hours book but it was such a great experience.
Thank you HarperAudio for this ARC!
November 27, 2025
A twisty, fast-paced novella full of intense, eye-popping scenes, The Wife Deserved It was the kind of domestic thriller that I utterly love. You see, not only did it start off with a bang, but the heart-pounding action didn’t let up even a little. Taking place over the course of one terrifying evening, the dual distinct POVs pulled me deeply into this delicious chess-like demise of a love story. Alternating between two of the three characters, the flashbacks added depth to the plotting as we saw behind the despicable actions. The best piece to this quick, easy read, though, was how much I loved to hate one of the characters. Narcissistic, manipulative, and condescending, this individual was a brilliant contrast to the other two in the story. After all, the mind games between them all were truly on-point and I easily fell in love with this suspenseful rollercoaster ride of a thriller. Bravo, Ms. Kane, it was everything that I wanted in a nice little package.
All said and done, with short, addictive chapters and a dark, twisted premise, it wasn’t all that surprising that this story was yet another slam dunk. With plenty of betrayals, lies, and revenge at the heart of the story, it centered around three connected characters as they fought for their lives. The best piece of all, though? That had to be the ending. Perfectly executed and shocking in the extreme, it left me with a Cheshire Cat-like smile taking over my face. My only hope is that Paige makes a reappearance in another book or novella. A complex, flawed persona with a morally gray soul, I definitely want to see more of her in the future. I mean, who wouldn’t love a strong, root-for-able woman with mysterious motives? Together with the twisty, edge-of-your-seat plot, the whole story was an out-and-out win. So go ahead and order it now. I promise that you’ll love every minute just like I did. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.
His wife has to die.
Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.
Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him.
Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, William Morrow Books, and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 21, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, gaslighting, stalking, gun violence
All said and done, with short, addictive chapters and a dark, twisted premise, it wasn’t all that surprising that this story was yet another slam dunk. With plenty of betrayals, lies, and revenge at the heart of the story, it centered around three connected characters as they fought for their lives. The best piece of all, though? That had to be the ending. Perfectly executed and shocking in the extreme, it left me with a Cheshire Cat-like smile taking over my face. My only hope is that Paige makes a reappearance in another book or novella. A complex, flawed persona with a morally gray soul, I definitely want to see more of her in the future. I mean, who wouldn’t love a strong, root-for-able woman with mysterious motives? Together with the twisty, edge-of-your-seat plot, the whole story was an out-and-out win. So go ahead and order it now. I promise that you’ll love every minute just like I did. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.
His wife has to die.
Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.
Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him.
Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, William Morrow Books, and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 21, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, gaslighting, stalking, gun violence
October 17, 2025
This is such a fun and juicy little thriller! Reid has decided he's had enough of his wife Anna, so naturally he intends to be rid of her, permanently. He has a plan, but little does he know...he's not the only one.
Told in both dual POVs and timelines this is a quick read you won't want to stop. I listened to the audiobook in practically one sitting because it's just that addictive. Reid is an AWFUL person that I loved to hate! Jonathan McClain narrated Reid and he used the PERFECT voice. He was annoyingly smarmy and oozed narcissism and entitlement with just the right inflections and cadence. Did I want to jump in the book and slap him across his complaining whining face? M a y b e . . . Eva Kaminsky was just as fabulous with her narration emoting just the right amount of sly no nonsense exasperation and guile. I could almost see smug satisfaction on her character's face!
Honestly I was in a slump, which RARELY happens and this knocked me right out of it. This is my first book by Darby Kane and this brief glimpse into her mind has left me wanting MORE! THE WIFE DESERVED IT is a twisty little battle of wills that will hold you it's grip and leave you with a feeling of satisfaction. If you crave a fun fast and deadly game of cat and mouse, this will do the trick!
____
Thank you Harper Audio for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Told in both dual POVs and timelines this is a quick read you won't want to stop. I listened to the audiobook in practically one sitting because it's just that addictive. Reid is an AWFUL person that I loved to hate! Jonathan McClain narrated Reid and he used the PERFECT voice. He was annoyingly smarmy and oozed narcissism and entitlement with just the right inflections and cadence. Did I want to jump in the book and slap him across his complaining whining face? M a y b e . . . Eva Kaminsky was just as fabulous with her narration emoting just the right amount of sly no nonsense exasperation and guile. I could almost see smug satisfaction on her character's face!
Honestly I was in a slump, which RARELY happens and this knocked me right out of it. This is my first book by Darby Kane and this brief glimpse into her mind has left me wanting MORE! THE WIFE DESERVED IT is a twisty little battle of wills that will hold you it's grip and leave you with a feeling of satisfaction. If you crave a fun fast and deadly game of cat and mouse, this will do the trick!
____
Thank you Harper Audio for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2025
I listened to this audiobook and really liked the narration a lot. The characters were really brought to life and got me instantly drawn into this story. I wasn’t sure how much to expect from this short novella, but it was a lot of fun. I don’t want to talk about the plot much or I will give away the twists. And while they weren’t the craziest I’ve ever seen they were fun and I wouldn’t want to spoil that. This one shows good things can come in small packages.
October 22, 2025
It is always fun to have a quick, twisty novella in between reads. Darby Kane always has such fun books,and this short story is no different.
Reid is ready for his marriage to be over. He has plans, he knows what he needs to do to dispose of his wife, Anna, what he doesn’t expect is for Anna to be ready for him. It is a battle of wills to see who will succeed
Easy to read in a short period of time, you will enjoy trying to figure out who will win the war.
Thanks to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my copy to read. Out now.
Reid is ready for his marriage to be over. He has plans, he knows what he needs to do to dispose of his wife, Anna, what he doesn’t expect is for Anna to be ready for him. It is a battle of wills to see who will succeed
Easy to read in a short period of time, you will enjoy trying to figure out who will win the war.
Thanks to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my copy to read. Out now.
November 1, 2025
the setup…
A man walks into a bar while away for business, meets a beautiful woman there and proceeds to rant about his soon-to-be-ex wife. Reid Cavanagh wants out but wants his kids and all the money. She has to die and he’s done the research. Tonight’s the night and his plan is solid. But, wife Anna is ready for him.
the heart of the story…
To hear Reid tell it, Anna is a poor excuse for a wife and deserves what’s coming. But, five minutes listening to him and you know he’s got to be part of the problem. When he sneaks into the house to do the deed, he gets quite the surprise.
the narration…
Johnathan McClain nails Reid! He sounded insufferable and misogynistic…perfect. I’m already a fan of Eva Kaminsky and her great storytelling. Both made this snappy and snarky.
the bottom line…
It’s short, to the point and you know where this is headed…until that slight, twisty detour. It’s not complicated but the pivot was a really nice touch. Made me smile and I kinda liked the dark turn. That’s entertainment!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
A man walks into a bar while away for business, meets a beautiful woman there and proceeds to rant about his soon-to-be-ex wife. Reid Cavanagh wants out but wants his kids and all the money. She has to die and he’s done the research. Tonight’s the night and his plan is solid. But, wife Anna is ready for him.
the heart of the story…
To hear Reid tell it, Anna is a poor excuse for a wife and deserves what’s coming. But, five minutes listening to him and you know he’s got to be part of the problem. When he sneaks into the house to do the deed, he gets quite the surprise.
the narration…
Johnathan McClain nails Reid! He sounded insufferable and misogynistic…perfect. I’m already a fan of Eva Kaminsky and her great storytelling. Both made this snappy and snarky.
the bottom line…
It’s short, to the point and you know where this is headed…until that slight, twisty detour. It’s not complicated but the pivot was a really nice touch. Made me smile and I kinda liked the dark turn. That’s entertainment!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 9, 2025
A short review of this short "cat-and-mouse" novella that focused on the dark dynamics of a troubled marriage.
Although the book's "husband plans his wife's perfect murder and she is ready for him" premise was intriguing, I had issues with the husband's dialogue.
WHY?
The husband's dialogue contained too many expletives and derogatory references about female anatomy.
(Was this necessary?)
----------------
Also, I felt that the book's final eye-rolling twist strained credibility.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Johnathan McClain and Eva Kaminsky.
Both narrators gave superb performances.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2026
Nope. Not for Me. Silly Plot and Foreseeable. No Depth to Characters at All. Best thing was it was Short. If you want a quick listen and a thriller, this may work well for you.
Thank You NetGalley and HarperAudio for a Copy of this Audiobook. I always leave reviews of books I read.
Thank You NetGalley and HarperAudio for a Copy of this Audiobook. I always leave reviews of books I read.
October 9, 2025
Darby Kane delivers another twisty and dark domestic thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. The story dives into betrayal, revenge, and long-buried secrets, with a cast of flawed characters who make you question everyone’s motives. I loved how the tension built layer by layer, pulling me deeper into the web of lies until the shocking reveals started dropping.
The writing is sharp and cinematic, and the fast pace kept me turning the pages in one sitting. Kane has a way of making you feel unsettled even during the quiet moments, which made this novella unforgettable.
If you love thrillers with morally gray characters, juicy secrets, and plenty of unexpected turns, this one absolutely delivers.
The writing is sharp and cinematic, and the fast pace kept me turning the pages in one sitting. Kane has a way of making you feel unsettled even during the quiet moments, which made this novella unforgettable.
If you love thrillers with morally gray characters, juicy secrets, and plenty of unexpected turns, this one absolutely delivers.
October 18, 2025
Darby Kane is a go-to author for me, so when I read this intriguing synopsis on NetGalley, I was all in!! We are introduced to Reid, who can only be described as a narcissistic lower-life form who wishes for only one thing—to be rid of his wife, Anna! So he devises a plan to murder poor unsuspecting Anna, and finally live the life he believes he deserves. But Anna proves not to be so unsuspecting, and Reid soon learns you need to be very, very careful what you wish for!
In true Darby Kane style, things are never as simple as they seem and Reid’s nefarious scheme begins unraveling in totally unexpected ways. Anna is not the easy target he thought she’d be. And once we are introduced to Paige—well, things take an even more interesting and unanticipated turn for Reid. And I was there for it!
THE WIFE DESERVED IT packed quite the punch for being a novella, and the suspense built with every chapter. Paige is a complex, flawed, yet compelling character whose mysterious motives helped move the plot along in unforeseen ways! And with that ending, might we see more of her? I do hope so!!
This audio version of an edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller was executed so well. And I love that we had two narrators—Johnathan McClain and especially Eva Kaminsky did a super job.
I want to thank NetGalley, Darby Kane, and HarperAudio for gifting me the audiobook of THE WIFE DESERVED IT. I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!
In true Darby Kane style, things are never as simple as they seem and Reid’s nefarious scheme begins unraveling in totally unexpected ways. Anna is not the easy target he thought she’d be. And once we are introduced to Paige—well, things take an even more interesting and unanticipated turn for Reid. And I was there for it!
THE WIFE DESERVED IT packed quite the punch for being a novella, and the suspense built with every chapter. Paige is a complex, flawed, yet compelling character whose mysterious motives helped move the plot along in unforeseen ways! And with that ending, might we see more of her? I do hope so!!
This audio version of an edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller was executed so well. And I love that we had two narrators—Johnathan McClain and especially Eva Kaminsky did a super job.
I want to thank NetGalley, Darby Kane, and HarperAudio for gifting me the audiobook of THE WIFE DESERVED IT. I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!
December 28, 2025
Reid is a complete A-hole... that's my main take away but that's hardly a review. But seriously, I couldn't stand the man ( although the narrator was great!). If you read this and hate Reid, I think you too will be pleased by the end of the story.
I had a feeling that things were amiss and that perhaps some people weren't who they made themselves out to be. The twists, weren't super shocking but it was still a pleasant and quick listen.
I had a feeling that things were amiss and that perhaps some people weren't who they made themselves out to be. The twists, weren't super shocking but it was still a pleasant and quick listen.
October 7, 2025
The Wife Deserved It by Darby Kane was an audio arc on Netgalley I requested based only on title. Great to get a winner when everything is random. This one was a novella which I guess is “slightly longer than a short story.” With do little time to develop characters, Kane still pulls off a great read full of supplies and delightful for an afternoon. Given it’s brevity, it was a great beach read/listen and I’d happily look at more work from this author.
September 30, 2025
Fast and easy read that had twisty turns! I had no idea to trust and shook my head at some of Reid’s comments about his wife, Anna. It’s funny that he thought everything would be resolved by getting rid of Anna!
October 22, 2025
Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC in exchange for my review. I really liked this one! The Wife Deserved It had me hooked from the first chapter and kept the suspense going the whole way through. It’s twisty, dramatic, and just a super fun listen imo.
The narrators were both excellent and totally pulled me into the story right away. Definitely one of those audiobooks that’s hard to pause. While It didn’t completely blow my mind, it was a solid fast paced thriller that I’d totally recommend if you’re into domestic drama with secrets, lies, and plenty of surprises.
The narrators were both excellent and totally pulled me into the story right away. Definitely one of those audiobooks that’s hard to pause. While It didn’t completely blow my mind, it was a solid fast paced thriller that I’d totally recommend if you’re into domestic drama with secrets, lies, and plenty of surprises.
October 30, 2025
You know those meetings that should have been an email? Unfortunately, I think that sums up this novella. Novellas are tough, it's hard to pack a punch in a short amount of time and make it worth your reader's attention. I was able to listen to this audiobook in a few hours and I enjoyed aspects of the story, the cat and mouse game, the unreliable narrators, but it wasn't enough to win me over. I do recommend Darby's full length novels for juicy twists that are definitely worth the read.
October 22, 2025
“Tell me about your wife.”
What a fun quick listen that sure packs a punch!
And the title, while intriguing, does not mean exactly what you would think! I enjoyed this twisty little tale , Paige, definitely a rockstar in my opinion! And the last two chapters have you wondering what Paige will be up to next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for my advanced audio, copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What a fun quick listen that sure packs a punch!
And the title, while intriguing, does not mean exactly what you would think! I enjoyed this twisty little tale , Paige, definitely a rockstar in my opinion! And the last two chapters have you wondering what Paige will be up to next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for my advanced audio, copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 11, 2025
* thanks to Harper Audio for the NetGalley review copy. (pub date: October 21, 2025)
For a quick, novella-length audiobook this packed a lot in and kept me occupied on a tedious drive, but nothing particularly unexpected happened. Loved that they used two narrators -- but they did the thing that drives me absolutely nuts and still had the male narrator doing lady voices and vice versa -- like if you have a female narrator available who is already voicing the female characters, why have the man doing another version of the same character? gah. annoying. Also... the male narrator sounded a lot like Lego Batman, which I found alternately hilarious and distracting. All in all, this was fine and I think Kane fans will enjoy it, but it didn't blow me away.
For a quick, novella-length audiobook this packed a lot in and kept me occupied on a tedious drive, but nothing particularly unexpected happened. Loved that they used two narrators -- but they did the thing that drives me absolutely nuts and still had the male narrator doing lady voices and vice versa -- like if you have a female narrator available who is already voicing the female characters, why have the man doing another version of the same character? gah. annoying. Also... the male narrator sounded a lot like Lego Batman, which I found alternately hilarious and distracting. All in all, this was fine and I think Kane fans will enjoy it, but it didn't blow me away.
October 24, 2025
In true Darby Kane fashion, this was such a twisty domestic suspense that had me on the edge of my seat! This was such a quick read that you don’t want to miss.
I listened to audiobooks and I loved the narrators! While I hated Reid for his narcissistic attitude and actions, it made me root for Anna, the wife, even more than I normally would! If you are looking for a short thriller that will keep you guessing, you won’t want to miss The Wife Deserved It!
****Many thanks to Harper Audio and Thriller Book Lovers - The Pulse for my gifted copies!
I listened to audiobooks and I loved the narrators! While I hated Reid for his narcissistic attitude and actions, it made me root for Anna, the wife, even more than I normally would! If you are looking for a short thriller that will keep you guessing, you won’t want to miss The Wife Deserved It!
****Many thanks to Harper Audio and Thriller Book Lovers - The Pulse for my gifted copies!
November 20, 2025
Dnf @ 40%
What a shit book, I hate the writing, I hate everything about it. What a waste of time.
What a shit book, I hate the writing, I hate everything about it. What a waste of time.
November 4, 2025
Darby Kane’s The Wife Deserved It is a short, sharp thriller that delivers a jaw dropping twist early and never lets go. Reid is done with his wife, Anne, and he’s planned her demise, but let’s just say she’s ready for him 👀. This domestic suspense novella is fast paced, addictive, and absolutely perfect for a one sitting binge. Make sure you clear your schedule before you start, because you won’t be able to stop.
November 16, 2025
4 Stars
Short domestic thriller. Reid is sick of his wife and how demanding she is. They've recently separated but he wants more. He'd rather his wife is dead.
After not so careful planning he sets out to murder his wife while the children are away.
Not bad for a short suspense
Short domestic thriller. Reid is sick of his wife and how demanding she is. They've recently separated but he wants more. He'd rather his wife is dead.
After not so careful planning he sets out to murder his wife while the children are away.
Not bad for a short suspense
October 31, 2025
That was a fast read...and the wife definitely deserved it !
I like "Happy Endings" !
November 4, 2025
First book I have ever seen on GR with no contrarians even rating it 2 or 1 star and writing an opposition review. Definitely worth a sequel. Can’t spoil it, go and read.
What would really be interesting if, the character at the end of the book, the author turns it into a series, but sometimes the character must fail or some other surprise endings or characters. The character can sometimes fail without having to die, and sometimes it succeeds as well.
A good long series of novels here can be developed.
What would really be interesting if, the character at the end of the book, the author turns it into a series, but sometimes the character must fail or some other surprise endings or characters. The character can sometimes fail without having to die, and sometimes it succeeds as well.
A good long series of novels here can be developed.
October 23, 2025
This quick yet gripping read follows a man who has grown tired of his wife and decides he wants her dead.
It served as an excellent palate cleanser between longer books and provided the reading boost I needed.
Reid believes he’s a clever man who has planned his wife’s demise down to the last detail. However, an unforeseen complication disrupts his perfect plan and completely turns the tables.
I particularly appreciated the structure of this story and the strong theme of women’s empowerment that Darby Kane skillfully weaves throughout. The author had me hooked from the very beginning, and the concise length of the book worked perfectly for the story being told.
The audiobook narrators delivered an outstanding performance, bringing each character to life with nuance and depth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It served as an excellent palate cleanser between longer books and provided the reading boost I needed.
Reid believes he’s a clever man who has planned his wife’s demise down to the last detail. However, an unforeseen complication disrupts his perfect plan and completely turns the tables.
I particularly appreciated the structure of this story and the strong theme of women’s empowerment that Darby Kane skillfully weaves throughout. The author had me hooked from the very beginning, and the concise length of the book worked perfectly for the story being told.
The audiobook narrators delivered an outstanding performance, bringing each character to life with nuance and depth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
A quick, easy to read domestic suspense novella that is just over a hundred pages long.
The pacing is fast and the story is full of suspense. I liked the shifting POVs and the cat-and-mouse action (both physical and emotional).
This novella kept my interest and I liked the way the author packed so much into such a short book. I loved the satisfying ending. Read it in an afternoon.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
The pacing is fast and the story is full of suspense. I liked the shifting POVs and the cat-and-mouse action (both physical and emotional).
This novella kept my interest and I liked the way the author packed so much into such a short book. I loved the satisfying ending. Read it in an afternoon.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
October 3, 2025
Review to come.
October 17, 2025
Wow!
Short and sweet? I think not!! 😮😮😮 (Although it is under 3 hours!! )
Did you ever meet a guy that’s a total narcissist?? He’s gorgeous (according to him!) Smart. Good job. Works out. Takes care of his kids. Does everything right… but his wife. Ohhhh…she’s awful…
Meet Reid. ⬆️⬆️. If you ask me, he’s the awful one…
He and his wife Anna are separated and heading towards a divorce. But he’s tired.
Tired of paying her. Tired of fighting. Tired of having to take care of the kids…and her…and the house. So he’s come up with a plan that will change everything…
Meet Paige. She met Reid at a bar. And, she’s perfect. Beautiful. She doesn’t let herself go. She works out. She’s smart. He can’t wait to get into her pants…
Meet Anna, the wife. She runs all day and night. She takes the kids where they need to go, feeds them, and runs their lives on a dime! But, according to Reid, she’s fat, lazy, and money-hungry…
And now, Read The Book!!
Because what happens in the next few hours will blow your mind!!!
Twists and turns that I NEVER saw coming! 😮🤔😉
And the ending? Wow! It was perfect! (And yes,that is really starting to frighten me! ) 😮😉🤣
4 1/2 creepy, crazy, ‘are-you-out-of-your-mind’ stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
#TheWifeDeservedItby @DarbyKane and narrated nicely by @EvaKaminsky and @JohnathanMcClain.
*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE 👀 LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON 10/21/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAudioAdult for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Short and sweet? I think not!! 😮😮😮 (Although it is under 3 hours!! )
Did you ever meet a guy that’s a total narcissist?? He’s gorgeous (according to him!) Smart. Good job. Works out. Takes care of his kids. Does everything right… but his wife. Ohhhh…she’s awful…
Meet Reid. ⬆️⬆️. If you ask me, he’s the awful one…
He and his wife Anna are separated and heading towards a divorce. But he’s tired.
Tired of paying her. Tired of fighting. Tired of having to take care of the kids…and her…and the house. So he’s come up with a plan that will change everything…
Meet Paige. She met Reid at a bar. And, she’s perfect. Beautiful. She doesn’t let herself go. She works out. She’s smart. He can’t wait to get into her pants…
Meet Anna, the wife. She runs all day and night. She takes the kids where they need to go, feeds them, and runs their lives on a dime! But, according to Reid, she’s fat, lazy, and money-hungry…
And now, Read The Book!!
Because what happens in the next few hours will blow your mind!!!
Twists and turns that I NEVER saw coming! 😮🤔😉
And the ending? Wow! It was perfect! (And yes,that is really starting to frighten me! ) 😮😉🤣
4 1/2 creepy, crazy, ‘are-you-out-of-your-mind’ stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
#TheWifeDeservedItby @DarbyKane and narrated nicely by @EvaKaminsky and @JohnathanMcClain.
*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE 👀 LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON 10/21/25!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAudioAdult for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 25, 2025
I enjoy novellas but they're tricky to pull off. Not every writer excels at writing short. I also think mystery/suspense adds another wrinkle because you need to convincingly deliver those elements with fewer pages to work with. Kane does a great job with the format here - she delivers a very compelling suspense story in a small package. It starts out one way - with Reid Cavanagh, a whiny, narcissistic man-baby showing up to murder his wife, currently dragging him through a divorce that's all her fault (because of course it is). Then - the twist. What Reid thinks he knows? He doesn't know.
I listened the audio version of this, and if I had to do it all over again I would have preferred reading it. We've got dual narrators in this one, and while Eva Kaminsky was great, I was not a fan of Johnathan McClain. To be fair, the character of Reid is angry and indignant for the entire story - and anger is hard to read convincingly. McClain tries, but it came off sounding strained and forced to me. He's not horrible, so it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and as with all things audiobook narrators - mileage gonna vary.
I listened the audio version of this, and if I had to do it all over again I would have preferred reading it. We've got dual narrators in this one, and while Eva Kaminsky was great, I was not a fan of Johnathan McClain. To be fair, the character of Reid is angry and indignant for the entire story - and anger is hard to read convincingly. McClain tries, but it came off sounding strained and forced to me. He's not horrible, so it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and as with all things audiobook narrators - mileage gonna vary.
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