Who Killed Abby In Hunting Wives

So, picture this: I’m sprawled on my couch, three glasses of wine in, and my phone is buzzing with a single, obsessive question from my best friend: “WHO KILLED ABBY?!” I’d just finished Hunting Wives, and honestly, my first thought was, “Wait, is this a trick question?” Because the answer isn’t just one person—it’s a whole messy web of secrets, jealousy, and a town that loves gossip more than its own children. Let’s unpack this murder mystery together, shall we?

The Obvious Suspects (and Why They’re Too Obvious)

First up: Margot. The yoga-pants-wearing, wine-sipping queen of the “Sable Society.” She’s the alpha of the hunting wives, and she definitely had motive—Abby was a threat to her throne. But here’s the thing: Margot is too perfect at pretending to be nice. If you’ve read the book, you know her hands aren’t clean, but killing someone? That’s a bit on the nose for a woman who prefers cattiness over violence.

Then there’s Nick, Margot’s husband and Abby’s secret lover. Oh, Nick. He’s the classic “mysterious bad boy with a heart of gold,” but guess what? Gold hearts don’t kill people, and Nick’s alibi is flimsy as wet tissue paper. He had access, motive (Abby wanted to go public with their affair), and a temper. But honestly? I think he’s too wrapped up in his own drama to actually pull the trigger.

The Real Killer: A Twist That’s Both Shocking and Predictable

And then we get to the actual killer: wait for it—it’s the quiet one, Eleanor. Yes, the mousy, neurotic mom who seems harmless and always apologizes for existing. She kills Abby in a moment of pure, raw panic. Abby had discovered Eleanor’s secret—that Eleanor wasn’t just a bored housewife; she was deeply in love with Margot, and Margot had been stringing her along for years. When Abby confronted Eleanor, threatening to expose the whole Sable Society’s dark underbelly, Eleanor snapped. She grabbed a candlestick (because, of course, Clue style) and ended it.

Here’s the kicker: no one saw it coming because everyone underestimated Eleanor. She’s the classic “the one you ignore is the one you should fear.” The book plays with this brilliantly—you spend the whole time looking at the loud, flashy suspects, while the real villain is quietly ironing her husband’s shirts and planning your downfall. It’s almost a commentary on how we ignore the “invisible” women in these small-town hierarchies.

'The Hunting Wives' Ending Explained: Who Killed Abby and Why? | Marie

Why It’s Not Just “Who,” But “Why”

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.