Release date: January 20, 2026
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
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 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 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 someone is destined to kill again.
Review:
Darby Kane’s Such a Clever Girl is a masterclass in suspenseful domestic thriller storytelling. The premise of the chilling disappearance of the Tanner family fifteen years ago, leaving behind a haunting tableau that still lingers in the small town was compelling and enough to pique my curiosity right away. Kane’s writing immediately pulls you into this mystery with a darkly atmospheric Sleepy Hollow–like setting, where autumnal fog and cold winds mirror the secrets hiding in plain sight. The return of Aubrey Tanner as an adult adds a fascinating layer—her motives are opaque, and her presence reignites rumors, fears, and long buried secrets.
What makes this book so compelling is the multiple POV structure paired with short chapters and tight pacing. Every character is morally ambiguous and often untrustworthy, each carrying hidden agendas and motivations that slowly unravel. The plot is dense, with many threads to follow, requiring careful attention but rewarding the reader with a complex, satisfying narrative. Kane balances suspense with character depth, making each revelation feel earned and impactful.
The story’s tension is heightened by a web of lies, betrayal, and secrets, which makes every interaction charged and every twist feel unpredictable. The combination of a deeply layered mystery, intricate character work, and a sharply drawn, moody setting elevates this thriller beyond a simple “whodunit.” Such a Clever Girl is dark, smart, and utterly engrossing, perfect for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with moral complexity and high stakes suspense.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 