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 Thriller, Mystery

368 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

[Nicole Auerbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[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.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Amber Boos · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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.

----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
Instagram
TikTok

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Ten years ago, a wealthy man named Walter Benedict was found murdered in his swimming pool while at a family gathering at his Rhode Island estate the night before he planned to make a big announcement. Everyone thought his wife, Amery, did it, but she was never charged.

In present day, Amery decides to invite everyone from the original gathering to a party at the estate to try to find out who really killed Walter. But then someone else is murdered, and we don’t know who it is.

DON’T BLAME THE WIFE is a page-turner from the very beginning. Readers have to figure out who dies at the second gathering through the story, told in dual timelines and multiple POVs -

* Amery, Walter’s wife
* Jenna, engaged to Walter’s youngest son, Cooper
* Kinsley, Walter’s daughter
* Grace, the Benedict’s house manager during the original murder

With crisp writing and short chapters alternating between these narrators, I found myself drawn in almost immediately. I really like Kane’s writing style. There were lots of juicy secrets between the pages, and the ending was very satisfying.

🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟

[Stacey Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 ...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Darreth Naylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Carissa Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. It is a good one to add to your tbr list!

Even though I knew going into this book that there would be many, many twists and turns, I still was not prepared for the level of guessing the plot would take me through. I enjoyed the story being told from multiple women's point of view and with the use of flashbacks. Even though Grace was gone from almost the beginning, we still were able to hear her voice from flashbacks and her voice mail. Throughout the book I had moments of doubting everyone and was wrong at every stretch whoch kept me engaged and reading. I usually find the ending of this type of book unsatisfying but this one left me satisfied. It was not rushed and tied with a red ribbon at the end. There were parts in the middle that I felt dragged but in retrospect I can see why all the details were necessary to thw ending. Overall, great read!!

#DontBlametheWife

[Jamie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Kane delivers another addictive thriller! A wealthy wife is trying to uncover which of her family members murdered her husband. At the 10 year anniversary of his death, she invites all her children to her estate and works to unravel who killed her husband, and why.

The author’s ability to balance dialogue and scene description always keeps me turning the pages.

What worked: Despite other reviews calling it confusing, I found the multiple POVs easy to follow because each character had a distinct voice.

What didn't: It dragged slightly in the middle. Cutting out about 50 pages of family bickering would have made the pacing much tighter.

Overall, while it’s not my favorite book of hers, it was still a fast, enjoyable read!

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow publishing for the opportunity to read the book ahead of its publication in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t Blame the Wife is a fun, bingeable locked-room family mystery full of wealth, secrets, and thoroughly unlikeable people. Darby Kane does a great job creating an atmosphere where everyone has a motive, and it was entertaining trying to piece together what really happened.

That said, this landed at a solid three stars for me. The pacing dragged in places, and while I know the characters are intentionally difficult to like, I found myself struggling to become emotionally invested in any of them. I enjoyed the mystery itself and kept reading to find out the truth, but it wasn’t quite as gripping or memorable as I’d hoped.

Overall, a good popcorn thriller with plenty of family dysfunction and twists, even if it wasn’t my favorite from the genre.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review: This was a solid closed-door mystery with a group of characters in a mansion, all trying to solve the mystery of their father. Suspicions start to turn on each other and it seems that everyone has a motive. If you enjoy mysteries where everyone has secrets and no one can be trusted, this one delivers.

It took me awhile in the beginning to keep all of the characters straight. There was quite a bit of arguing and finger-pointing between them. Once I settled into who everyone was, the mystery picked up for me. It was fun trying to figure out what happened right along with the characters.

Overall, this was a good read. Just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages and even a few twists! If you enjoy closed-circle mysteries with rich, entitled characters, this is one you should pick up!

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew! I have finally been able to release the breath that I didn't know I'd been holding. This book was utterly insane! I wasn't sure that I would be able to stomach the despicable characters with their holier-than-thou airs, but I ate up the drama the same way I eat pepperoni pizza. I devoured it! This story unfolds like one big chess match, orchestrated by the family matriarch who sits back and watches the players while they try to take each other out. Everyone had a secret to hide. Finding out who was guilty of what was an enjoyable ride of WTF moments and shocking reveals. Well played, Darby Kane. I loved it and will be recommending to everyone! It's a MUST read.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Cindy Bokma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wealthy people doing terrible things? Say less.

Don't Blame the Wife by Darby Kane is an entertaining, fast-moving novel that solidified Darby as a must-read author for me.

This book is about Amery, a woman whose husband was murdered at their multi-million dollar Rhode Island estate. Though she spent a day in jail, no one was ever arrested.

Fast forward ten years, and she calls her children home. A documentary about the wealthy family is being released, and Amery wants the murder mystery solved and the case closed. Was Amery playing a long game? Does she know more than what she let on? Who did it and why? She's going to find out.

This novel was so good, and Darby's writing is fantastic.

Be sure to put this on your TO-READ list!

[Rachiebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t blame the wife by Darby Kane

First of all this book was told in multiple POV’s, which to begin with was a little bit distracting and confusing in some aspects. However, I’m glad that I did stick with this book. This book had a wonderful sprinkling of drama, family, secrets, and overall stress. This book was revolving around a woman named Amery whose husband had been found dead in their pool.

Amery called all the children to their New Hampshire home to find out who killed her husband. And then the locked door panic starts.

This book was busy and crazy. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for the book #DontBlameTheWife by #DarbyKane. This book is about crazy people with money and what they can get away with and I loved it! The Benedict family has come back after ten years for a reunion, of sorts, to find out who really killed Walter Benedict. His wife, Avery, has invited everyone from that night to come back to find out who really killed her husband. But this time she has added a new person to the group. She is offering her $28 million dollar house as a reward. A new murder happens. Is it the same murderer as before? Will someone walk away with the Benedict mansion?

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Blame the Wife
By: Darby Kane
Pub Date: January 12, 2027
Tour: THE PULSE

I have enjoyed every book by this author and this one as well.

Waverly’s waters are haunted by bodies. Ten years ago Walter Benedict body as found in the pool at the Rhode Island estate. Of course, his wife, Amery was the suspect. She was arrested but let go perhaps too soon. Money can buy you a lot, but can it get you out of the public’s opinion of your guilt? Or false accusations?

Ten years later on the Amery host a party for the families. They quickly learn she has alternative motives!! She wants her husbands murder solved!

This story moves fast and would make a perfect movie.

[Lilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book! While the authors writing style throws me off a bit (a lot of incomplete sentences on purpose), the story kept my attention from beginning to end. I was kind of disappointed by the ending - I felt like there was so much more to unpack - but I can definitely also see why it felt like a good place to stop. I would love to see this somehow made into a series. And WOW, did the author know how to make some SUPER unlikable characters!
I thought the chapters each being from a different female characters POV would really confuse me, but it only took me a few chapters to get used to/keep track of all the characters.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy family? Not this family!
Stone cold battle axe Amery Aberdeen Benedict beckoned her offspring back to the manor they all dutifully obeyed.
What a snarl of secrets this group harbored.
I had my suspicions about a couple of them but later the real perp stood out.
I liked Vaughan and Kinsley the best because they seemed a bit genuine.
The cast of characters would be enough for me to wave bye to Waverly before I ever set foot on the property.
Kane has a knack for creating the most unlikable characters!
Thanks NetGalley , William Morrow, Thriller Booklovers the Pulse and Darby Kane for the advance copy

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family estate, a murdered patriarch, a looming documentary, and general family dysfunction - why yes this would be a Darby Kane novel. When the Benedict family reunites on the 10th anniversary of the death of Walter, his widow Amery and suspected murderer charges the family to solve the murder and the prize will be the keys to the estate. There’s so much motive for this murder and not just from Amery- all 3 of his children have their own motives - not to mention their significant others (some of them with more than one).

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC