The Wife Deserved It
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
A Novella
By: Darby Kane
Narrators: Johnathan McClain,
Eva Kaminsky
HarperAudio
ISBN: 978-0063486089
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date:10/21/2025
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (ALC)
Darby Kane, author of #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, delivers an unputdownable domestic thriller novella in which a man has laid the foundation for the perfect murder... or so he thinks.
Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.
His wife has to die.
Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.
Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him.
My Review
Darby Kane's captivating novella, THE WIFE DESERVED IT, is a dangerous, deadly game of cat and mouse, taking the domestic thriller genre and turning it on its head! In a gripping tale, a husband's meticulously crafted plan to murder his wife is thwarted by her own clever strategies.
Deliciously wicked, the hunter becomes the hunted, and the climax promises a deliciously satisfying twist.
About the book...
The Husband:
Reid Cavanagh is consumed by resentment towards his wife, Anna, whom he blames for prolonging their costly divorce. Driven by a desire for control over their children and a wish to avoid the financial burden of legal battles, he devises a chilling plan to end her life.
The Plan:
Reid meticulously researches online forums, learning from the missteps of others. Armed with a seemingly foolproof alibi and an untraceable weapon, he believes his murder scheme is flawless. He is cocky and arrogant.
The Wife:
Anna is no ordinary victim; she's fully aware of Reid's intentions and has prepared herself for his arrival, staying one step ahead of his every move. Smart. Courageous. Sharp.
As Reid sets his sinister plan into motion and steps into his own home, the events unfold in a way he never anticipated.
GAME ON!
My Thoughts...
Darby Kane masterfully crafts a wickedly engaging narrative of predator/prey that alternates between the perspectives of both husband and wife, then and now, highlighting the tension between Reid’s scheming and Anna’s awareness.
The climactic twist is a show-stopper, turning the tables in a way that will leave Reid reeling as he unwittingly walks into his wife's expertly laid trap.
With insights from both Anna and Reid, readers are drawn into a web of thoughts, deceit, lies, and actions that keep them enthralled until the final, unexpected conclusion.
This revenge thriller is not just wickedly dark; it’s an engrossing game of cat and mouse that showcases Reid's carefully laid plans unraveling, leading to justice served in the most surprising of ways.
For all the women who relish a sharp, cunning narrative that showcases the art of outsmarting an evil man, this one’s for you!
As a former divorce lawyer with a dual writing persona, Darby Kane is well-versed in the complexities of domestic drama and the intricacies of marriage.
The Audiobook...
The audiobook experience is nothing short of spectacular, infused with menace, tension, and suspense. The narrators, Johnathan McClain and Eva Kaminsky, breathe life into the characters, delivering an engaging, suspenseful, and compelling performance that makes for a thoroughly entertaining listen.
Recs...
Filled to the brim with intrigue, THE WIFE DESERVED IT is a must-read (listen) for devoted fans of the author, as well as those who revel in the gripping twists of domestic suspense. If you enjoy the works of Liv Constantine, Kimberly Belle, Victoria Helen Stone, Kaira Rouda, Mary Kubica, and Hank Phillippi Ryan, then this novella is sure to captivate you!
Upcoming...
While I will miss Darby’s usual December release, I’m eagerly anticipating her next offering, Such a Clever Girl, set to release on January 20, 2026. I have the ARC and can't wait to dive into this tense domestic thriller that promises hidden secrets, unraveling family mysteries, and a race against time in a town haunted by its past. It’s bound to be chilling!
A heartfelt thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for providing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 21, 2025
About the Author
Darby Kane is a former trial attorney and #1 international bestseller of domestic suspense. Her first two thrillers, Pretty Little Wife and The Replacement Wife, have been optioned for television and featured in numerous venues, including The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The Toronto Star, The New York Post, Popsugar, Refinery29, Goodreads, The Skimm, and The Huffington Post. Visit darbykane.com for more information. WEBSITE
