But let’s be real for a second: did Abby’s death really solve anything? No. Because the murder wasn’t about Abby herself—it was about the toxic web of envy, loneliness, and performative friendship in Oakwood. Abby was a newcomer who dared to play the game better than the veterans. She slept with the right men, wore the right dresses, and smiled too much. And in a town where being “perfect” is a full-time job, being too good is a death sentence.
And that’s the ironic part, isn’t it? Everyone killed Abby. Margot killed her by creating a culture of ruthless competition. Nick killed her by leading her on. The other wives killed her by gossiping and isolating her. Eleanor just happened to be the one holding the weapon.
Who Really Killed Abby in The Hunting Wives? The Shocking Truth Behind
So, What’s the Takeaway?
If you take one thing from this mess, it’s this: don’t trust a book by its cover—or a small-town wife by her sourdough starter. The real horror in Hunting Wives isn’t the murder; it’s how ordinary people can become monsters when they’re scared of losing their place in the pecking order. Abby died because she threatened a system built on lies. Eleanor killed her because she was terrified of being exposed as the liar she was.
Oh, and a side note: the cops in this book are useless. Like, completely useless. They spend the entire second half interviewing the wrong people, and you’re screaming, “Just look at the emails, for crying out loud!” But that’s the point—small-town justice is a joke, and everyone gets away with something.
So, next time you’re at a book club and someone asks you “who killed Abby?” you can lean in, take a sip of your wine, and say, “The real killer was suburbia, honey.” But also, technically, it was Eleanor. Just don’t forget to mention the candlestick in the library. You’re welcome.
