Such a Clever Girl

By: Darby Kane

ISBN: 9780063352018

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 01/20/2026

Format: Paperback

My Rating: TBR (ARC)

JAN 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

Darby Kane, author of the #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, returns with a gripping domestic thriller in which a family goes missing and a long-buried family mystery resurfaces.

Fifteen years ago, the Tanner family vanished without a trace, leaving behind a chilling scene: half-eaten meals, a bloodstain by the door, and a smoldering fire consuming their business across town.

The once-vibrant home stands untouched, a haunting relic of the past. As rumors fade into local folklore, the mystery of their disappearance seems destined to remain unsolved—until Aubrey Tanner returns.

Now a hardened thirty-year-old, Aubrey arrives in town with secrets etched in her silence. Why did she come back? Was she a victim of the night that changed everything, or does she hold the truth of what happened to her family? The town is rife with theories, but three women share a dangerous bond: they know more than they’ve ever confessed.

As the past resurfaces, old alliances fray. A teacher, a café owner, and a psychologist are drawn together by memories they’d rather forget. Each holds a piece of the puzzle—and a dark secret of their own. When a new disappearance sends shock waves through the town, blackmail begins, and the stakes climb higher.

In a race against time, these women must confront the truth or risk becoming the next victims of a past they cannot escape. With tension rising and danger lurking, one thing is clear: someone is destined to kill again.

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Praise

"As always, Darby Kane takes us on a dark ride through tangled memories, wild danger, and a deranged web of lies I wasn’t sure I’d find my way out of. Such a Clever Girl is a moody and intricately paced whodunit set against the backdrop of a Sleepy Hollow mansion haunted by deadly memories and maybe a few ghosts. I kept reading way past my bedtime to solve the mystery, and I did not see that ending coming!"

— Victoria Helen Stone, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Bald-Faced Liar

About the Author

Darby Kane is the pseudonym for a former divorce lawyer and #1 international bestselling author of domestic suspense. Her books have been optioned for television and featured in numerous venues, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan. WEBSITE