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He Had It Coming
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26It’s been eight years since “the incident” that stole the future Jerek Hayes had planned. Accusations. Negative press attention. Rabid anger from people he’s never met.
Some say he avoided responsibility for his crime. That his family’s money saved him. But he’s ready to put those years behind him. He’s moved across the country. Established a new life.
He acts like he’s gotten away with it.
But revenge requires perfect timing and Sabrina’s been waiting for this moment. Waiting for him to start over…so she can take it all away.
Some say he avoided responsibility for his crime. That his family’s money saved him. But he’s ready to put those years behind him. He’s moved across the country. Established a new life.
He acts like he’s gotten away with it.
But revenge requires perfect timing and Sabrina’s been waiting for this moment. Waiting for him to start over…so she can take it all away.
- GenresThriller
Audible Audio
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Darby Kane
9 books2,023 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 21, 2026
Want some bang for your buck? This 112 page novella will get you out of a reading slump by keeping you on the edge of your seat. Darby Kane does an awesome job of packing a lot of tension into this novella! You’ll enjoy this if you like:
🛥️ rich people behaving badly
🛥️ revenge
🛥️ manipulation
🛥️ getting away with murder
🛥️ lies
🛥️ multiple
🛥️ rich people behaving badly
🛥️ revenge
🛥️ manipulation
🛥️ getting away with murder
🛥️ lies
🛥️ multiple
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝑺𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒉.
Eight years after an incident destroyed his reputation, Jerek Hayes believes he has successfully outrun his past. New city, new life, fresh start. The problem is that some wounds don't heal just because the person who caused them decides to move on. Sabrina has spent years waiting for the perfect moment to settle a score, and when the opportunity finally arrives, she intends to make every second count. Short, sharp, and fueled by simmering resentment, this novella wastes absolutely no time getting to the point.
What impressed me most was how much punch the author packed into such a small package. This is very much a revenge story, but it is also about accountability, power, and the stories people tell themselves in order to sleep at night. The tension builds quickly, and there is a particular satisfaction in watching the narrative peel back its layers as the truth comes into focus. It would have been easy for this story to feel underdeveloped, but instead it felt focused. Dark, compulsively readable, and impossible to put down once it gets its hooks in, this was a reminder that sometimes the shortest stories leave the deepest scars. Thank you to the author and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this early read that will publish October 6, 2026.
Eight years after an incident destroyed his reputation, Jerek Hayes believes he has successfully outrun his past. New city, new life, fresh start. The problem is that some wounds don't heal just because the person who caused them decides to move on. Sabrina has spent years waiting for the perfect moment to settle a score, and when the opportunity finally arrives, she intends to make every second count. Short, sharp, and fueled by simmering resentment, this novella wastes absolutely no time getting to the point.
What impressed me most was how much punch the author packed into such a small package. This is very much a revenge story, but it is also about accountability, power, and the stories people tell themselves in order to sleep at night. The tension builds quickly, and there is a particular satisfaction in watching the narrative peel back its layers as the truth comes into focus. It would have been easy for this story to feel underdeveloped, but instead it felt focused. Dark, compulsively readable, and impossible to put down once it gets its hooks in, this was a reminder that sometimes the shortest stories leave the deepest scars. Thank you to the author and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this early read that will publish October 6, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Eight years after a scandal destroyed his reputation, Jerek Hayes has reinvented himself. He left his past behind, moved across the country and built a new life, determined to convince everyone, including himself, that the worst is over. While some believe he escaped justice thanks to his family's wealth and influence, Jerek is ready to move on. But someone hasn't forgotten. Sabrina has spent years waiting for the perfect opportunity to make Jerek pay. As he settles into his fresh start she quietly begins unraveling everything he's worked to rebuild.
A tiny novella with big "I have a score to settle" energy! This book wastes no time throwing you into a storm of revenge, resentment and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The pacing is relentless, the tension starts immediately and before you know it you're flipping the last page! What I loved most was how much this story packed into such a bite-sized package. It's not just about revenge, it's about accountability power, privilege and the excuses people make when they don't want to admit to what they've done. Short and deliciously twisty, this is a type of thriller that takes you by the hand and drags you through the chaos leaving you wondering what's next from this author!
Thank you to Darby Kane and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for letting me read an early copy!
A tiny novella with big "I have a score to settle" energy! This book wastes no time throwing you into a storm of revenge, resentment and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The pacing is relentless, the tension starts immediately and before you know it you're flipping the last page! What I loved most was how much this story packed into such a bite-sized package. It's not just about revenge, it's about accountability power, privilege and the excuses people make when they don't want to admit to what they've done. Short and deliciously twisty, this is a type of thriller that takes you by the hand and drags you through the chaos leaving you wondering what's next from this author!
Thank you to Darby Kane and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for letting me read an early copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Eight years ago, Jerek Hayes killed a young girl called Ruby. He claimed it was an accident, walked away without paying the price, and left Ruby's name dragged through the mud. But now? Ruby's older sister, Sabrina, is ready to make sure justice finally catches up with him.
This may be a novella, but don't let the page count fool you. It packs one hell of a punch.
The first half puts us inside Jerek's head, and honestly? He's an absolute narcissistic piece of work. The kind of man who plays the victim while destroying everyone around him. I wanted to reach through the pages and throttle him.
Then comes Sabrina.
Watching her methodically dismantle the man who stole her sister's life was unbelievably satisfying. As an older sister myself, I understood every ounce of her rage. If someone hurt my brothers, I'd want to burn their world down too.
This author genuinely never misses. The writing is addictive, the pacing is relentless, and the twists kept coming. I managed to work out who was helping Sabrina and who was behind the anonymous online posts, but everything else completely blindsided me.
If your favourite kind of revenge story is one where an abusive man finally gets exactly what he deserves, this one deserves a place on your TBR.
This may be a novella, but don't let the page count fool you. It packs one hell of a punch.
The first half puts us inside Jerek's head, and honestly? He's an absolute narcissistic piece of work. The kind of man who plays the victim while destroying everyone around him. I wanted to reach through the pages and throttle him.
Then comes Sabrina.
Watching her methodically dismantle the man who stole her sister's life was unbelievably satisfying. As an older sister myself, I understood every ounce of her rage. If someone hurt my brothers, I'd want to burn their world down too.
This author genuinely never misses. The writing is addictive, the pacing is relentless, and the twists kept coming. I managed to work out who was helping Sabrina and who was behind the anonymous online posts, but everything else completely blindsided me.
If your favourite kind of revenge story is one where an abusive man finally gets exactly what he deserves, this one deserves a place on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)
If you’re looking for a quick revenge thriller that you can finish in one sitting, this novella is worth checking out.
The premise immediately caught my attention. Revenge stories are always intriguing to me, and He Had It Coming wasted no time jumping into the action. Because it’s a novella, the chapters are short and the pacing is fast, making it incredibly easy to fly through.
I found myself engaged the entire time, wanting to see how the revenge plot would unfold and whether everything would go according to plan. It definitely kept my interest.
My only critique is that I wanted a little more substance behind the revenge itself. I felt like the motivation and execution could have been explored in greater depth, which would have made the payoff even more satisfying.
Overall, though, this was an entertaining, fast-paced read that delivered an enjoyable revenge story in a short amount of time. If you’re in the mood for a bite-sized psychological thriller with quick chapters and plenty of tension, He Had It Coming is a solid pick.
If you’re looking for a quick revenge thriller that you can finish in one sitting, this novella is worth checking out.
The premise immediately caught my attention. Revenge stories are always intriguing to me, and He Had It Coming wasted no time jumping into the action. Because it’s a novella, the chapters are short and the pacing is fast, making it incredibly easy to fly through.
I found myself engaged the entire time, wanting to see how the revenge plot would unfold and whether everything would go according to plan. It definitely kept my interest.
My only critique is that I wanted a little more substance behind the revenge itself. I felt like the motivation and execution could have been explored in greater depth, which would have made the payoff even more satisfying.
Overall, though, this was an entertaining, fast-paced read that delivered an enjoyable revenge story in a short amount of time. If you’re in the mood for a bite-sized psychological thriller with quick chapters and plenty of tension, He Had It Coming is a solid pick.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
📅 Publishes October 6, 2026
Jerek Hayes is that guy you love to hate. Privileged, smug, and totally convinced his family’s cash can buy him a free pass. Honestly, even his name sounds like it comes with a trust fund.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers—The Pulse, Darby Kane, and William Morrow Books for providing this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Eight years after nearly tanking his own future, Jerek’s out here pretending the past is ancient history. Someone’s been biding their time, just waiting to remind him that money can’t erase every mess.
Apparently, I’m on a roll with books about badly behaved men finally meeting karma. This month’s reads have been wild.
“He Had It Coming” is a quick, revenge thriller with an extremely satisfying premise. Darby Kane knows how to pack plenty of tension and deliciously messy behavior into a novella without rushing the fun. It was exactly the fast, entertaining break I needed between longer novels.
📅 Publishes October 6, 2026
Jerek Hayes is that guy you love to hate. Privileged, smug, and totally convinced his family’s cash can buy him a free pass. Honestly, even his name sounds like it comes with a trust fund.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers—The Pulse, Darby Kane, and William Morrow Books for providing this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Eight years after nearly tanking his own future, Jerek’s out here pretending the past is ancient history. Someone’s been biding their time, just waiting to remind him that money can’t erase every mess.
Apparently, I’m on a roll with books about badly behaved men finally meeting karma. This month’s reads have been wild.
“He Had It Coming” is a quick, revenge thriller with an extremely satisfying premise. Darby Kane knows how to pack plenty of tension and deliciously messy behavior into a novella without rushing the fun. It was exactly the fast, entertaining break I needed between longer novels.
Review of advance copy
Who doesn’t love a revenge plot !? This was twisty and packed a punch for a novella. It was pretty action packed for only being a little over 100 pages.
Jerek Hayes has been fighting against the narrative the world has spun against him for the past 8 years. Many people say he’s gotten away with his crime by being saved by his family’s money and status. He moves across the country and starts a new life in hopes to put the past behind him.
Revenge and karma never forget an address and it’s coming for Jerek no matter how far he tries to run.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my advanced reader copy!
Publishing October 6th
Jerek Hayes has been fighting against the narrative the world has spun against him for the past 8 years. Many people say he’s gotten away with his crime by being saved by his family’s money and status. He moves across the country and starts a new life in hopes to put the past behind him.
Revenge and karma never forget an address and it’s coming for Jerek no matter how far he tries to run.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my advanced reader copy!
Publishing October 6th
Read
August 3, 2026If you love a twisty little tale of revenge as much as all of us at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, “He Had It Coming” is for you!
It’s been eight years since Jerek Hayes skated on a murder accusation thanks to his daddy’s money. And since the justice system failed to hold Jerek responsible, Sabrina is just going to have to do it herself. This sharp, twisty tale clocks in at a little over 100 pages and I inhaled it in a single sitting! Jerek is the kind of guy you love to hate (think Reid Cavanagh from Kane’s “The Wife Deserved It,” Jackson Parrish (Liv Constantine), or Paul Strom (Kaira Rouda)) and I couldn’t wait for him to get everything that was coming to him!
It’s been eight years since Jerek Hayes skated on a murder accusation thanks to his daddy’s money. And since the justice system failed to hold Jerek responsible, Sabrina is just going to have to do it herself. This sharp, twisty tale clocks in at a little over 100 pages and I inhaled it in a single sitting! Jerek is the kind of guy you love to hate (think Reid Cavanagh from Kane’s “The Wife Deserved It,” Jackson Parrish (Liv Constantine), or Paul Strom (Kaira Rouda)) and I couldn’t wait for him to get everything that was coming to him!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Eight years ago Jerek Hayes was accused of murder. He is rebuilding his life and has a plan to take over the family company from his older sister. But an anonymous poster is trying to ruin his life by posting about the murder.
This was a super quick novella that kept me hooked from page 1. I read it in one afternoon and was shocked by the ending! Put this on your list! You will not want to miss out on this one!!
This was a super quick novella that kept me hooked from page 1. I read it in one afternoon and was shocked by the ending! Put this on your list! You will not want to miss out on this one!!
Review of advance copy
Darby Kane has a knack for delivering intense stories whether in novel length or novellas.
Jarek Hayes is a smug slimeball who skated free from killing Ruby Forde.
Someone is out to make sure Jarek pays the ultimate price.
I devoured the chapters with relish and figured out some of the plot but the rest was tantalizing obscure until just the right moment!
Thanks William Morrow and BookLover Thriller Pulse for the early copy.
Jarek Hayes is a smug slimeball who skated free from killing Ruby Forde.
Someone is out to make sure Jarek pays the ultimate price.
I devoured the chapters with relish and figured out some of the plot but the rest was tantalizing obscure until just the right moment!
Thanks William Morrow and BookLover Thriller Pulse for the early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Novellas present a unique challenge. "He Had It Coming" immediately captivates the reader from the opening chapter, delivering a fast-paced and intense narrative. Despite it being "short and sweet," Kane masterfully weaves together the elements with grace, skill, and palpable tension.
Thank you Darby Kane, Harper Collins , The Pulse, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review before publication.
Thank you Darby Kane, Harper Collins , The Pulse, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review before publication.
Review of advance copy
He Had It Coming is a short, quick little thriller read.
Jerek Hayes thought he left the past in the past. He thought that what he did was done and forgotten. But other's didn't forget . Jerek finds himself being held captive by someone who wants revenge for the pain he caused. The story is full of revenge. His sister is really no help and Jerek questions whether she' even involved or not.
The story is short but compelling with just the right momentum of pacing to keep you hooked.
Jerek Hayes thought he left the past in the past. He thought that what he did was done and forgotten. But other's didn't forget . Jerek finds himself being held captive by someone who wants revenge for the pain he caused. The story is full of revenge. His sister is really no help and Jerek questions whether she' even involved or not.
The story is short but compelling with just the right momentum of pacing to keep you hooked.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this book in one sitting and it was so good. I do love a good revenge story and relished as Sabrina finally got her overdue justice. For such a short book, the author did a great job planting as many twists as she did with an explosive ending that left me flabbergasted. Highly recommend this novella if you're after a short thriller!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novella is crazy good! Jerek did something eight years ago. Jerke thinks he has gotten away with it and has moved to start a new life. Jerek is wrong. Sabrina has been waiting for this moment, for revenge, on what he took from her family. Now is the time…..
August 1, 2026
Jerek is not a nice person. He’s gotten away with things for far too long and someone has to stop it. Darby Kane is an amazing writer and a lot is packed in this short story. I read it in about an hour and loved every page. A great revenge story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
You all know I love Darby Kane so I jumped at chance to read her upcoming novella.
This was a perfect, entertaining read in one sitting type of book. Especially if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers, revenge, and strong ass female characters then this is for you!
Also if this song doesn’t play on repeat while you’re reading this then you’re lying 😂
Read if you love:
📖 Novellas
🩸 Revenge
Thank you Thriller Book Lovers and Darby Kane for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a perfect, entertaining read in one sitting type of book. Especially if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers, revenge, and strong ass female characters then this is for you!
Also if this song doesn’t play on repeat while you’re reading this then you’re lying 😂
Read if you love:
📖 Novellas
🩸 Revenge
Thank you Thriller Book Lovers and Darby Kane for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy
This fast paced small novella packs a BIG punch! Dive right in to an impossible to put down, dark, extremely satisfying revenge story. Don't mess with a Sabrina 😉 A perfect book to get you out of a reading slump or for a one sitting read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews