Don't Blame the Wife

by Darby Kane

Succession meets The Guest List in Darby Kane’s newest novel where rich people are doing terrible things, including murder. There’s no telling how far these weekend guests will go to be the next heir of the Benedict estate…

For the second time in ten years a body drifted in the water at Waverly...

Ten years ago, someone who supposedly loved Walter Benedict murdered him during a party at Waverly, the family’s Rhode Island estate. His body was found floating in the pool, and his wife, the Amery Aberdeen Benedict, was immediately named the suspect by law enforcement and every true-crime fan on the internet.

Amery being Amery, she spent less than a day in jail and did so with her usual spare-no-expense flair. Then…nothing. The years ticked by without an arrest or any new information. Whispers about Amery’s involvement continued but closure never came.

Now on the tenth anniversary of the tragic event, Amery has called her children and their partners home for a “Walter is still dead, so let’s celebrate” soiree. But her true motivation is quickly revealed. With rumors of an impending explosive documentary about the family, Amery wants the murder solved and offers a challenge to make it happen: Waverly in exchange for the truth.

A twenty-eight-million-dollar oceanfront estate is a lot of incentive. The kind some people would kill for.

Amery knows someone might be tempted to get a little nasty. To break the rules. To eliminate the competition. You might even say she secretly hopes all of those things happen. See, Amery likes games. She’s been planning this for a long time and it’s time to play.

One weekend. One answer. One heir to the estate. Huge money. A new murder. Winner takes all.

This will teach people to blame the wife.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

528 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 12, 2027

About the author

Darby 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.

Reviews

[Eve]

Psychological / Suspense / Thriller & Suspe
Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley, Megan Tusing, Carlotta Brentan and Vanessa Johansson
Release date: 01-05-27
Length: 12 hrs

For the second time in ten years a body drifted in the water at Waverly...

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11)]

I love Darby Kane - drama, suspense, fun twists, and unlikable characters. Don't Blame the Wife takes these attributes to the next level. It's over the top, borderline ridiculous, and full of despicable characters that make your skin crawl.

Told from multiple points of view, Don't Blame the Wife is a locked room whodunnit. On the tenth anniversary of the patriarch's murder, Amery Aberdeen Benedict is ready for answers and she's willing to fork over the ultimate prize for whoever can provide them -- the title to the infamous Waverly property and a corresponding trust to keep it maintained. When a storm rolls through trapping everyone at Waverly Place for the weekend, more than just secrets will spill.

The banter in this novel is non-stop. No dialogue was safe from a snarky comeback and no character seemed to have a redeeming quality. While I figured out the whodunnit pretty early on, it was still a fun journey seeing how depraved and devious the story became and Kane was sure to throw in some surprises I didn't see coming.

This wasn't my favorite novel by Kane and overall was too over the top for me, but it was definitely entertaining. If you love to hate the characters and enjoy solid snark, you won't want to miss this!

[Nicole Auerbach]

Solid thriller, per usual from Darby Kane. It took a bit for me to get used to all the characters and keep track of the various POVs, but I really enjoyed both the pacing and twists. Perfect poolside read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jennifer *Nottoomanybooks*]

💭: This one is a long one folks! Coming in hot at over 500 pages, we have a whodunnit mystery that took place 10 years previously. We have a toxic, rich family—the Benedicts—who have been summoned to their mother’s mansion, along with two outsiders to the family. Why you ask? The matriarch wants to find out once and for all who killed her husband on that fateful day a decade earlier, and no one is leaving until they do. Whoever solves the crime gets the $28 million dollar estate transferred to their name. High stakes have everyone on edge! I enjoyed the juicy secrets and how everything came together in the end. Full of unlikeable characters this one will have you yelling at them screaming “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!” Preorder this bad boy so you can enjoy it too!

[Kimberly]

Amery brings the entire family back to their mansion 10 years after the murder of her husband to finally determine who the killer was.

This family is filled with unlikeable people. There was too much family bickering and drama for me. The cast is quite large and with alternating POV it was easy to get lost.

Unfortunately, not my favorite Darby book but I love her other thrillers! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Kristin (Readwithdubs)]

In true Darby Kane fashion, Don’t Blame the Wife took me on a RIDE. With multiple POV’s and dual timelines, we meet the wealthy Benedict family and all the drama and secrets that surround them. And let me tell you, there was NO shortage of drama here - siblings who love each fiercely but won’t hesitate to tear each other to shreds. Significant others with their own twisted agendas. A mother who rules with an iron fist. Toss in a few suspicious deaths and disappearances and you have the making of an addicting thriller that is sure to keep you up all night to find out what happens next. I flew through this one in less than 24 hours and I think I need a day to process wtf I just read 😅

My apologies to everyone who has to wait until January to get their hands on this one but I promise it’s worth the wait!

[BookishKB]

🔪 Don't Blame the Wife 🔪

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

🖤 What to Expect
• Locked Room Mystery
• Dysfunctional Family
• Wealthy Family Drama
• Murder Mystery
• Family Secrets
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: January 5, 2027
Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Jami Moss]

Thanks to Goodreads for the opportunity to win this ARC! I’m leaving an honest review as a thank you!

This book had me constantly changing my mind and I thought I had it all figured out then had the right pulled right under me - only to find out I was right!

This family has more money than morals. I loved this book!!

[Suzi Winter]

Thank you NetGalley and Darby Kane for the ARC to review😊😊!!
If you are looking for a thriller with one of the most dysfunctional, underhanded, and devious families of all time, then this would be the perfect book for you!! These people could give two craps about each other as long as they get what they want…
Darby Kane wrote about the characters in this story beautifully. She portrayed them as never missing a beat when it came to family disasters and she continued to bring the audience into the story by keeping the plot alive with twists and turns around every corner.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good crazy, wacky family thriller with tragedy galore.
Read & Enjoy😊😊!!

[Dive Into A Good Book]

Who would not want a 28-million-dollar estate along the coast of Rhode Island. Overlooking the splendor that the ocean offers no matter what the weather. Waverly Estate has its secrets. Ten years ago, William Benedict was murdered. At first everyone thought his cold-hearted wife Amery did it. The murder seems to have escaped or is it one of the family members? Ten years later, Amery calls the family back to Waverly. Begrudgingly her children and their significant others make the trip. What could Amery have instore for them?

Jenna was not there ten years prior. As Cooper's fiancé she has been invited and it is the first time she has met any of his family. Jenna is nervous, terrified, and yet still in awe of the gorgeous estate. Jenna head is spinning from meeting all of Cooper's family members. Each fitting a different stereotype, each wondering what their mother could possibly want. The morning after they arrive Amery blesses them with her presence. She seems to be able to suck the air out of the room and bring on the chill as soon as she crosses the threshold. Amery has something she needs to tell the family, but not yet. We do not want to spoil it.

There is a wide cast of characters, yet I did not have trouble remembering who everyone was. Each brought their own bags of secrets. They are unique in every sense and they draw you into the story. There is a ton of family drama and I was there for all of it! Thank you to Darby Kane, William Morrow Paperback, and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my gifted copy.

[Mandy Hazen]

Don't Blame the Wife was such a fun, twisty thriller! I went into this one expecting secrets and drama, and Darby Kane definitely delivered. There were plenty of moments where I thought I had things figured out, only to question everything again a few chapters later.
I really enjoyed the messy relationships and all the layers of secrets throughout the story. It kept me guessing without feeling like I could completely predict where things were headed, which is always a win for me in a thriller. There were a few moments where I had to suspend disbelief a little, but honestly, I was having enough fun that I didn't mind too much. 😂
This wasn't quite a five-star read for me, but it was definitely one of those books that kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter.” If you like domestic thrillers, complicated relationships, secrets, and plenty of twists, I'd definitely recommend this one!
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

[Nilufer Ozmekik]

I think I've read every single Darby Kane book at this point, which probably makes me a fangirl. And yes, you may absolutely consider me one. Not the screaming-from-the-rooftops variety—I have neighbors and a reputation to maintain—but more the kind who sips a glass of Sancerre with friends at book club while passionately convincing everyone that they need to rearrange their TBR immediately.

The moment I saw Darby Kane's name paired with William Morrow, my finger hit the request button faster than common sense could intervene. Did I read the synopsis first? Absolutely not. At this point, those two names together are my literary version of muscle memory. They have yet to disappoint me whenever I'm in the mood to devour a thriller and temporarily cancel all my real-life responsibilities.

By "cancel responsibilities," I mean ignoring laundry, pretending emails don't exist, and attempting to mute my husband with a magical remote control while I read.

Unfortunately, such technology has not been invented yet.
I am old-fashioned. I rely on duct tape, an Old Fashioned cocktail, and my best Villanelle laugh.
(Please do not try this at home. Or do. I'm not your lawyer.)

This book immediately pulled me in because I am physically incapable of resisting a locked-room mystery. Well, technically, a locked-mansion mystery—and what a deliciously dysfunctional mansion it is.

Picture this: ten years ago, Walter Benedict—the wealthy patriarch of the Weatherly family—was found brutally murdered in his bedroom at the Rhode Island estate during an extravagant family gathering. He had planned to make a life-changing announcement that evening, and judging by the number of family members openly unhappy about it, let's just say Walter wasn't exactly winning any "Father of the Year" awards.
His wife, Amery, became the obvious suspect. After all, when a rich husband dies under mysterious circumstances, society practically prints the "black widow" T-shirts before the body is cold. But despite the whispers and suspicions, nothing could ever be proven.
Ten years later, Amery gathers everyone back at the estate to finally uncover the truth.
And what a cast of suspects we have.

There's Tristan, the eldest son, accompanied by his wife, Olivia. Harris, Tristan's younger son from a one-night stand. With his mother, Elle (Who is also Vaughn’s sister). Vaughn, the family outsider who married into the chaos with his wife Kinsley; another heir. Cooper, third heir, arrives with his fiancée Jenna, who may or may not have her own agenda. Family friend Ingrid is also invited because apparently, no reunion is complete without reopening decade-old trauma.

Hovering over all of this is Grace—the quiet assistant from the past timeline—who witnessed more than anyone realized while everyone else was too busy looking anywhere but at her. She disappeared after the murder, and let's just say I'm keeping my mouth firmly shut before I wander into spoiler territory.

The setup is irresistible: Amery offers her sprawling $28 million estate as the prize for discovering the truth. Solve the murder, inherit the fortune.
What could possibly go wrong?
(Spoiler: everything.)

Because every single heir has a motive. Every single one of them carries secrets. And while blaming the widow may have been the easiest answer, Amery seems tired of carrying the burden—or perhaps tired of protecting someone she loves.
So who killed Walter?
Who deserves the inheritance?
And, more importantly, will everyone survive this family reunion?
Let's just say I wouldn't unpack my suitcase if I were staying at this estate.

Darby Kane expertly moves between past and present timelines, slowly peeling back layers of lies, resentments, and family dysfunction. The pacing kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime, and I found myself changing my theories every few chapters.

Overall, this felt like Clue wandered into Succession and had a delightfully sinister baby, with a sprinkle of modern Agatha Christie vibes for good measure.

Amery completely stole the show for me from the very beginning. In my head, she was played by Annette Bening—elegant, intimidating, and possessing the kind of charisma that makes you simultaneously trust her and fear sharing an elevator with her. Vaughn was another standout. As for the rest of the family? Let's just say Thanksgiving dinner with them sounds like my personal nightmare.
While I had a few minor issues and didn't connect equally with every character, I still absolutely devoured this book. It was the literary equivalent of popcorn entertainment: addictive, messy, and impossible to stop consuming once you start.

I'm rounding my 3.5-star experience up to 4 stars simply because Darby Kane once again reminded me why she's one of my go-to authors whenever I need a twisty, entertaining thriller.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this enjoyable domestic thriller/locked-room mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Selina]

Dysfunctional families, multiple buried secrets, and at least one moment where I audibly say, “Oh… you’re all terrible.” Don’t Blame the Wife absolutely delivers that.

The premise is what sold me: ten years after wealthy patriarch Walter Benedict is murdered, his widow Amery summons everyone who was in the mansion that night back for one final family reunion. Her demand is simple, figure out who really killed her husband. As motivation, she offers the family estate and its fortune to the person who uncovers the truth.

It’s such a great setup… which is why the first 20% frustrated me.

Instead of diving into the reunion, the opening spends a long time laying foundation and introducing the family. It isn’t bad, but it’s slow. I kept waiting for everyone to arrive at the mansion so the actual story could begin. Once they’re finally trapped together, the pace improves dramatically and I had a much harder time putting it down.

The novel follows four POVs: Amery the wife/mother who controls everything, her daughter Kinsley who is hopelessly codependent on her husband Vaughn, Jenna (Cooper’s fiancée with a secret), and Grace, the young assistant who vanished the same day Walter died. I enjoyed all four perspectives, but they also make it pretty obvious those women probably aren’t the killer. That shifts your attention to the remaining suspects, Cooper, Tristan, Olivia, Vaughn, Hunter and Elle.

Tristan, Amery's oldest son, is the kind of eldest son who mistakes stupidity and being a jerk for leadership, somehow seeming entitled to both the reader and his mother. Olivia his wife, somehow becomes more insufferable every chapter; every time she earned a sliver of sympathy, she immediately talked herself right out of it. Hunter, Tristan's illegitimate son with Elle, is intelligent, observant, and almost too capable...which instantly made me suspicious. Cooper is hopelessly attached to his mother, and watching Jenna actually realize and not just assume, what a weak, self-serving man he’s is was almost painful. Then there’s Elle, who seems too nice, too caring to a stranger who is there to throw a wrench in their family plans. Vaughn, Kinsley's husband is extremely thoughtful and sweet at many times and seems to only want to protect Kinsley, which is both a wonderful thing AND a beacon of doubt, and Ingrid, who seems to be the most random person to be included and you later find her connections.

Honestly, this family doesn’t need therapy,they need several therapists and a legally binding restraining order.

Amery completely stole the book for me. She’s elegant, intimidating, and surprisingly likable despite spending the last decade under suspicion. Every time she walked into a scene, everyone else had to adjust their breathing and cater to her thoughts, plans. She is completely in control and everyone knows it. She’s easily the character I was most invested in.

I did guess the killer before the reveal through process of elimination, but that didnt lesson the enjoyment of seeing it all play out. But the fun wasn’t really in who did it, it was watching decades of lies, affairs, betrayals, and resentment unravel as the weekend spiraled further out of control. There were still several twists I didn’t see coming, and the ending tied everything together in a satisfying way.

If you love locked-room mysteries packed with wealthy, awful people making terrible decisions, this is a great pick. Just be patient through the opening. The first act is a slow climb, but the back half is deliciously messy.

Selkie verdict: Come for the inheritance, stay for the catastrophic family reunion.

[Angie Miale]

3.5 ⭐️ | Don’t Blame the Wife by Darby Kane

Darby Kane has become one of those thriller authors I can count on for an entertaining, twist-filled ride, and Don’t Blame the Wife delivers exactly that. If you love wealthy families, locked-room mysteries, long-buried secrets, and plenty of soap-opera-worthy scandals, this one is worth adding to your TBR.

The story centers on Amery Aberdeen Benedict, the formidable matriarch of a powerful family living in a $28 million estate. Ten years ago, her husband Walter was found floating dead in the swimming pool, and many believed Amery got away with murder. She has always maintained her innocence.

To mark the tenth anniversary of Walter’s death, Amery summons her children, their partners, and everyone who was present that fateful night back to the mansion. When another guest winds up dead, no one is allowed to leave until the mystery is solved. As an added incentive, Amery announces that whoever uncovers the truth will inherit her entire estate.

From there, the novel becomes a fast-paced, locked-room mystery filled with shifting timelines, multiple points of view, family betrayals, secret affairs, and enough drama to rival Knives Out by way of The Young and the Restless. Everyone seems to fear Amery, and she easily became the most compelling character in the book. Every time she was on the page, she commanded attention.

As always, Darby Kane excels at pacing. The chapters fly by, the twists keep coming, and the story constantly gives you new suspects and motivations to consider. I never felt bored, and I was eager to see how everything would come together.

What kept this from being a four-star read for me was the characterization. While there are several points of view, many of the voices blend together, making it difficult to become invested in anyone besides Amery. Gena, Cooper’s fiancée and the story’s primary outsider, feels like the character readers are meant to root for, but she never develops enough of a distinct personality to truly stand out. As a result, the emotional stakes never landed quite as strongly as I hoped.

Even so, this is another solid thriller from Darby Kane. It follows a formula similar to some of her previous novels, but it’s a formula that works. If you’re a fan of locked-room mysteries, dysfunctional wealthy families, and page-turning suspense with plenty of shocking reveals, I think you’ll have a great time with this one.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC. Don’t Blame the Wife is expected to be published on January 12, 2027.

[Ashley Sawyer]

Ten years ago, Walter Benedict was murdered during a dinner party at Waverly, the Benedict family's lavish Rhode Island estate. His body was found floating in the pool and suspicion immediately landed on his wife Amery Aberdeen Benedict. But after spending less than a day behind bars, Amery walked away with her freedom, her fortune, and plenty of unanswered questions. For ten years the case has remained unsolved while the rumors surrounding Amery refused to die. Now, on the tenth anniversary of Walter's death, Amery gathers her children and their partners at Waverly for a celebration that quickly turns into something sinister. With a potentially explosive documentary threatening to expose the family, Amery offers everyone a tempting challenge... solve Walter's murder and Waverly is theirs. But when another body turns up, the competition suddenly becomes deadly.

A wealthy family. A $28 million estate. An unsolved murder from ten years ago. And a mother who decides the best way to honor that anniversary is to bring everyone together and challenge them to solve it. What could possibly go wrong?! I loved the setup of this one! Waverly felt like the perfect setting for all of the secrets, suspicion and family drama to unfold. Amery was easily the standout for me! She was confident, calculating and just unpredictable enough that I never knew what she was going to do next! The dual timelines and multiple POVs keep the pace steady and the short chapters keep readers invested. It was messy and entertaining and it was exactly the rich family drama that I love sinking my teeth into!

Thank you to NetGalley, Darby Kane and William Morrow for this eARC and thank you Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for having me on this blog tour!

[storriebooked]

I am here once again claiming a new favorite Darby Kane book, and the fact that I say that almost every time is not important. What IS important is that we've been given an opulent, isolated setting full of obnoxiously unlikeable characters, and that's more than enough for me.

When Amery calls her kids back to Waverly, nobody expects a casual family weekend. After all, Amery always comes with an agenda and calls all of the shots, and this weekend her plans are focused around identifying who killed her husband- a murder she's been highly speculated of committing for a decade. Amery's had enough, though, and she plans to turn up the heat- she either learns the truth or her guests lose everything.

We are treated to this weekend through the eyes of multiple characters, and while Amery isn't our primary narrator she makes for an intriguing one. I did enjoy all perspectives, but I still found myself constantly curious about how Amery would react next and waiting for her next bombshell to drop. And that just goes to show how well she is written because readers are just as compelled by her whims as her own family is.

If you're a thriller reader who loves locked rooms, rich families behaving badly, and a setting that comes with a body count, Don't Blame the Wife needs to be on your radar. If you need your characters to be likeable, you may be disappointed here. ((Unless we are talking about Vaughn. I won't accept ANY Vaughn slander.))

Don't Blame the Wife is set for release in January 2027, so make time to get your preorders and library requests in. This thriller is going to be the best way to start off your 2027 reading year!

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, William Morrow, & Darby Kane for this complimentary copy.))

[Amber Boos]

There's a body floating in the pool at Waverly. Again. And so begins Darby Kane's latest thrill-ride to Crazy Town. Ten years ago, Walter Benedict is found dead in the pool of the 28 million-dollar Rhode Island estate. His wife, and owner of said millions, Amery, is assumed to be the killer, but hey, when you have millions and no hard evidence, it's not easy to turn suspicions into actual charges. Amery lives for 10 years under that cloud. She still lives quite well, but the rumors and gossip must be exhausting. On the 10th anniversary of dear Walter's demise, Amery assembles her three children and their significant others to Waverly with a proposition. Find out who really killed Walter and the entire estate will be theirs. Wait! Amery really didn't kill Walter? It was sorta just assumed...... Well, now it's game on, with most of the original players in attendance from back then to duke it out to the finish! And what a finish it is! In typical Darby Kane style, we get a bat**** crazy corker of an ending involving the VERY wealthy behaving VERY badly! Most of the characters are horrible, with no redeeming qualities and I loved every one of them. Especially Amery. The story is told from several POV's, and in dual timelines and it all works together really well. This authors books have quickly become some of my favorite auto-buy must-reads, and while this story was not my new favorite Darby Kane book, it is still a solid fast-paced 5-star read! As usual, I couldn't put it down! So excited for the next one!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Darby Kane and William Morrow for this much-loved ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sandy]

In this novel, rich people are definitely the evil ones, as they tend to be in the thrillers written by Darby Kane.

This family, brought together in the family estate in Rhode Island, are first introduced to us when the family patriarch Walter Benedict was brutally murdered. Obviously his wife Amery was the primary (and only) suspect in his murder. She was released from jail the next day, leaving no other good suspects. Really? The other family members? The personal assistant?

Fast forward ten years.
Same 28 million dollar estate.
Hostess: Amery owner of the estate. Kind of.
Reason: Supposedly to celebrate the anniversary of her husband's death and to finally suss out the killer of her husband. Winner of Clue will win the estate title free and clear.

Avery wants this murder solved before a Netflix-like documentary company comes in and solves the murder, exposes family secrets and possible negates the will, thereby possibly taking the entire estate from her. This is a high-stakes, high-fortune game of family Clue for sure.

But in the end who wins? Who gets the estate? Is the winner the rightful heir? or the murderer?

Unfortunately dear review reader, you must wait until March 2, 2027 to get your answers. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC provided to me for an honest review.

I enjoy Kane's writing, and his characters don't disappoint. I hated every one of them.

But the story drags in part, and I had to put the book down and in parts force myself to finish it in the spirit of loving the author's previous works. Its not the best I've read. But if you love Kane, I'd read it.

[Heather]

Don't Blame the Wife is a thriller by Darby Kane. It centers on a weekend at Waverly, a mansion owned by Amery Aberdeen Benedict. She has called her entire family home and wants them to solve a decades-long mystery. Who murdered her husband Walter? Ten years ago, someone who supposedly loved him murdered him and left him for dead in the pool. Now Amery has summoned everyone for a party and wants her family to figure out who murdered Walter and the person who figures it out will inherit Waverly, a 28 million dollar oceanfront estate. That is a big incentive someone might kill for. Amery likes to play games and knows someone might play a little dirty in order to win. She might enjoy that as she has been planning this a long time.

I found most of the characters in the story unlikable. Amery herself was very unlikable. So were her children. The beginning of the story introduces the characters and we get a feel for their personalities and as it goes on, we get to know more about them and the more unlikable they become. There were three characters that end up being okay as the story progresses. The story flowed back and forth between the present and ten years prior and it was easy to keep up. I liked the locked room mystery feel of the story and I didn't see the twist at the end coming.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Darby Kane's Don't Blame the Wife.

[Julie Parks]

"What's the Slan? Get us in a room and force someone confess?"

Talk about toxic families!

This story has everything a thriller lover could want - a bunch of over-privileged siblings squabbling, secrets threatening to come out, a supposedly bias bystander with way too much backstory info, an eerie castle-like setting that's also modern and practically flooded with old money and luxury, remote location and a ten-year-old murder that's been largely unsolved.

I devoured this in two days unable to put it down through all the twists and reveals. Darby Kane has created a whole ensemble of complex female characters that shine with their devious mastery. I absolutely loved the drastic contrasts she was able to draw between the invisible class systems of society and how in such close proximity and under pressure each character would stand/ break in their own ways.

Superbly detailed and fast-paced, with multiple POVs and timelines, this book paints a truly grim picture of a world only too much money and delusional legacy can build.

Big thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the chance to read this ARC.

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[Stacey Robinson]

Darby Kane, is usually an author I can count on for twisty, addictive thrillers, so I went into Don't Blame the Wife with high expectations. The premise was fantastic—a locked-room type mystery wrapped around a deeply dysfunctional family with secrets lurking around every corner. Unfortunately, the execution never quite lived up to the setup.

The story is told through multiple POVs, which I typically enjoy, but this time they made the plot feel more convoluted than suspenseful. Instead of building tension, the constant shifts slowed the pacing and made it difficult to connect with the mystery.

The cast is filled with unlikable characters. Normally, that doesn't bother me in a thriller—in fact, it can make for a compelling read-but here their behavior became more of a distraction than as asset.

I found myself more frustrated with the characters than invested in uncovering the truth.
While there are plenty of family secrets and enough twists to keep the pages turning, the emotional payoff never quite landed for me. As someone who generally enjoys Darby Kane's work, this one simply felt off. It's an intriguing premise that, for me, fell short in delivery.

Thank You NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, are my own.

[Kristen Baker]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Don't Blame the Wife had all the ingredients for a great mystery: a wealthy family, plenty of secrets (and motives), and everyone gathered together for the reveal of who killed Walter Benedict.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one, and it came close to being a DNF. The writing, specifically the dialog, felt incredibly clunky whenever the full cast was together, which was a large portion of the book. I found myself constantly rereading paragraphs to figure out who was speaking and trying to connect new details to the right character. The frequent POV switches only added to the confusion, and I had to keep checking the chapter headings to remind myself whose perspective I was reading.

That said, I thought the last 25% came together much better. Once everything started falling into place, the story became easier to follow, and I felt the final two chapters stayed true to the characters involved. While I wasn't particularly surprised by the ending, it felt believable, which made for a satisfying enough conclusion.

Thank you NetGalley and William Marrow for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[LORIANN (my opinion doesn't mean much, but ...)]

Walter is floating in the family pool ... with a knife in his back. Grace is missing. No one is admitting to who has done anything! But one thing is for sure ... someone is guilty, and Amery is going to get to the bottom of it. It may take ten years, but Amery always gets what Amery wants.

In this book there are lots of POV's. And at times it's almost overwhelming. But watch the names, and you can keep up. A lot is going on. The pace is fairly fast-paced until the middle, when it slows down, and the banter gets a little overwhelming and needs to be cut out. Then the pace picks back up. The characters are all very hateful as they should be! Not one of them is a decent person. The plot is a very dysfunctional family that believes nothing can touch them. That money and mom will get them out of everything. And of a mom that will do everything in her power to rule her family.

I enjoyed this book, but it does get a little long-winded mid-book and could be 50 -75 pages shorter and be just as good. It is still a well-worth-the-read book!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for review. All opinions are my own

[Jackie]

3.5 ⭐️

There was a lot going on in this one, sometimes maybe a little too much, but I still enjoyed it. The multiple POVs and alternating timelines worked for me, especially with a family this messy. Betrayals, affairs, lies, secrets, red herrings… basically no one could be trusted. I kept changing my mind about who the killer was, which is always a good thing. The relatively short chapters helped too and kept me moving through it.

The first few chapters took some time getting acquainted with all the characters and figuring out who was who. Once I got everyone straight, it became easier to follow, although my biggest struggle was still the amount of characters. Some of the family dialogue started to feel repetitive too, and pretty much everyone was unlikable. But with this family, I kind of think that was the point . The last quarter was definitely where most of the action was and where everything started coming together.

Thank you to William Morrow for the advance copy. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read Darby Kane’s newest release in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Rachel M]

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC to review!

If you are obsessed with messy family drama, toxic secrets, and high-stakes games where literally everyone has a hidden motive, you need to pick up Don’t Blame the Wife.
Ten years after Walter Benedict turns up dead in his family's Rhode Island pool with his wife, Amery, immediately taking the fall in the court of public opinion, Amery pulls all her adult kids and their partners together for a wild anniversary dinner. Her proposal? Solve the decade-old murder before the night is over, and 28 million dollars is yours. Naturally, absolute chaos ensues.
Darby Kane delivers big time here. The whole vibe feels like Succession mixed with a locked-room thriller. The characters are completely unhinged and messy, and Amery is such a deliciously calculating mastermind. If you love stories driven by obsessive dynamics and toxic relationships, you will eat this up.
It's a super fast, addictive page-turner that's so much fun to binge, even if a couple of the twists are easy to see coming if you read a lot of thrillers. Totally worth the read!

[Darreth Naylor]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Darby Kane's newest: Don't Blame the Wife.

I ended up giving Don't Blame the Wife 3 out of 5 stars, but this one just wasn't for me.

The Agatha Christie-inspired, locked door family mystery had a lot of potential, but I struggled to buy into the premise. So much of the plot relied on family members hiding information, refusing to communicate, or waiting ten years (for some reason) to reveal pieces of what they knew. Instead of feeling suspenseful, it just felt frustrating and unrealistic.

Unfortunately, I also disliked every single character, which made it difficult to become invested in either the mystery or their fates. When you don't care about the people involved, it's hard for the twists and suspense to have much impact.

While I can see how readers who enjoy dysfunctional family dramas and classic whodunits might appreciate this one, it never fully worked for me. Overall, it was an okay read, but not one I'll be thinking about for long.

[Nikki Murphy]

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a great whodunit that kept me guessing right up until the very end. When the Benedict family gathers at their Rhode Island estate ten years after Walter's murder, everyone has secrets, everyone has motives, and it quickly becomes clear that no one can be trusted.
Darby Kane does a fantastic job weaving together the mystery, constantly making you question every character. Nearly everyone is unlikable in one way or another, but somehow that only made it more entertaining. Everyone is guilty of something. The real question is what they're guilty of.

The pacing kept me turning the pages, and I genuinely had a hard time putting this one down. With plenty of twists, family drama, and red herrings, this was an addictive mystery that delivered a satisfying ending. If you enjoy dysfunctional families, locked-room style mysteries, and trying to solve the puzzle before the final reveal, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Suzi (Lil Bit Reads)]

Ten years ago, Walter Benedict was found floating facedown in the pool at Waverly, the family’s Rhode Island estate. His wife, Amery Aberdeen Benedict, has long been considered suspect number one, but was never arrested. Now ten years later, Amery is gathering her children and their assorted significant others at Waverly with a simple bargain: she’ll transfer the deed to the lavish oceanfront estate to the person who solves the murder.

If you loved Such a Clever Girl or The Engagement Party, you know you’re in for a weekend of rich people behaving badly, secrets, lies, and backstabbing (and actual stabbing) in a locked room environment. It’s suspenseful and intricately plotted, with a good-sized cast of characters, all with their own shadowy motivations. The multiple POV structure keeps the tension high as the story unfolds from several perspectives, with plenty of twists and shocking reveals. My friends at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been buzzing about this one, and fans of Darby Kane’s backlist are sure to enjoy this newest release too!

[Nikki B.]

Don't Blame the Wife is a suspenseful, mystery, thriller with a whodunnit plot.
Ten years ago, Walter's body was found floating in his pool, murdered, during a family party.
Since the spouse is always a suspect, his wife Amery is taken into jail, but released with no evidence against her.
Now, the 10th Anniversary of Walter's murder, Amery has invited everyone back to the house. It doesn't take long for her intentions to be made clear. No one is leaving until the murder is solved. As an incentive for everyone involved, she puts an offer on the table. The Waverly estate, an ocean front property worth about twenty eight million dollars. But Amery likes games. And she's hoping this one gets nasty.
I found this story to be thrilling. I loved the concept of this. I did find the story to be a little slower paced and struggled a little to keep my attention, but the plot is intriguing enough to keep you wanting to read. Overall, I thought the story was entertaining and definitely worth a read.

[Dea Farrell]

3.5⭐️ rounded up

Ten years ago, Amery's husband was found murdered during a party at their lavish estate of Waverly. She's spent the past ten years with everyone thinking she's the murderer, except she's not. She has a very good idea who is, and she's assembled all of her family back to Waverly on the anniversary of her husband's death to play a game. Whoever wins the game gets a prize—Waverly Manor and the entire Benedict trust to help maintain it. How to win? Figure out which family member really murdered her husband. This is a locked-room whodunit that is rife with secrets and a whole lot of unlikable characters. Every member of the Benedict family is pretentious and only out for their own betterment. When they all get stuck at Waverly when a storm unexpectedly hits, everything comes to a head. The drama and bickering amp up tenfold. Honestly, I wanted to jump in there and knock some decorum into these people. The short chapters make this a fast read, and while I did figure out the killer quickly, I still found this entertaining.