Such a Clever Girl
A Novel
Will be published approx. on 12. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-06-335201-8 (ISBN)
Description
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 cafe 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.
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 cafe 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.
Reviews / Votes
"Darby Kane deserves credit for dispensing with anything resembling a slow burn in The Replacement Wife. There is a rollicking, almost absurdist tone to Kane's writing that kept me engaged...Finally, after several doses of sociopathy, more than a little gaslighting and arguments galore, nearly all of Elisa's suspicions are confirmed in the worst possible way. 'Nearly' saves room for a final surprise I didn't foresee." - New York Times Book Review"Yet another gripping mystery filled with more twists than a bag of licorice." - E! News Online
"Such a clever thriller! Darby Kane delivers on the chilling premise of a missing family, a daughter returned, and three women forced to confront deadly secrets they wanted to keep buried. A total page-turner!" - Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Haters
"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
"Buckle up folks. The Engagement Party is the definition of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." The secluded setting with the relentless storm will have your heart pounding. The incredible twists will transport you into a tornado of lies and deception, and the ending will leave you gasping." - Jaime Lynn Hendricks, bestselling author of I Didn't Do It
"The Engagement Party is a gripping, fast-paced, non-stop thriller! The twists and turns are sharp, they surprised me every time. Sit down with this book and get comfortable, because you won't be able to put it down." - Samantha Downing, bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and A Twisted Love Story
"An isolated island. A violent storm. A group of friends with secrets. And one body after another. Darby Kane has cooked up one heck of a locked room thrilled with this recipe, and as she stirs the pot, dropping in unexpected twists and shattering reveals, you'll find yourself wondering who--if anyone--will survive the night. You won't be able to read The Engagement Party fast enough!" - Jessica Payne, international bestselling author of Make Me Disappear
"My God, this book is delicious. The Engagement Party is a swallow-down-in-one-desperate-gulp kind of thriller, so compelling I felt feral turning its pages. Darby Kane is a master at constructing juicy, twist-filled plots. The multiple points-of-view, ensemble cast, dark, isolated Maine setting, and decade-old secrets combine to create a locked-room mystery of the highest order, a puzzle-box so clever and sly it would make Agatha Christie proud." - Ashley Winstead, author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour
"If Agatha Christie re-wrote your favorite slasher story, it would be The Engagement Party. This is Darby Kane's darkest, twistiest thriller yet (which is saying a lot!), with game-changing surprises in nearly every chapter. It would be hard to find a book more fast-paced or adrenaline-fueled, because with this one, you don't turn the pages; you tear through them." - Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot and Thicker Than Water
"Righteousness and vengeance intertwine when a select group of influential women decides to mete out justice in The Last Invitation, Darby Kane's third gripping thriller that features myriad believable twists." - Shelf Awareness
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Dimensions
Height: 202 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-335201-8 (9780063352018)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
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.