Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Daisy Darker” is the ultimate, locked-room mystery by author Alice Feeney. Set at a gothic house on a tidal island, Seaglass house is the perfect location for this haunting, spooky tale.
The Darker family is coming together for the first time in many years to celebrate the eightieth birthday of their matriarch. Nana’s house, Seaglass, is unique in that once the tide goes out, the only connection to the mainland is severed until the tide comes back in about eight hours later. So, the Darker family is stranded together, with all of their family dysfunction, with no means of escape but it isn’t until Nana is found dead in the home that the Darker family really starts to really worry. Threatening messages start appearing and then more bodies start dropping and the youngest daughter, Daisy, knows that if they don’t find the killer, no one will be leaving Seaglass alive.
Alice Feeney is a literary rockstar when it comes to psychological suspense and thrilling twists, and “Darker” is no different. Although the story is narrated by Daisy primarily in the early 2000s (when the story takes place), the reader gets glimpses of the Darker family past, through recalled memories and videotape recollections, to help understand the dark familial connections.
Right at the beginning, there is an obvious choice who stands out as a possible suspect but of course, it’s too obvious for someone with Feeney’s writing talent, so throughout the novel, the question of “who dunnit?” remains unanswered until the final pages. The ending itself has more than one epic twist and it was so unexpected that it made me want to re-read the story from the beginning to pick up the hints that I obviously missed.
“Darker” has a gothic, eerie setting, a colossal mess of a dysfunctional family (and a cute dog!) and deep, dark secrets that no one wants revealed. I love Feeney’s work and “Daisy Darker” is just another novel to add to my list of favourites- Feeney delivers an addictive, page-turning novel with constant twists and turns, culminating in an unexpected and jaw-dropping ending!

If you love Agatha Christie, you will love Daisy Darker. An edge of your seat thrill ride until the last page.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney was my first Alice Feeney thriller after hearing how amazing an author she was and I'm so glad I finally tried one of her books. They were rich with character and story and still provided thrills and twists that everyone is looking for when it comes to a good thriller.
I read a lot of thrillers and although this could be similar to a few, I found it to be a wholly original story and the plot twist at the end was truly surprising and heartbreaking. No spoilers!
As a librarian, I will recommend this author and this book in particular to those looking for a twisty thriller. This author is now on the must read list.

For the first time in years, the Darker family is all together to celebrate Nana's 80th birthday. However, just after midnight, Nana is found dead and she's just the first...
This has serious And Then There Were None vibes. There are a lot of twists, some that I did see coming, and others that I did not. The big finish of the book was explosive and everything you want from a thriller.

Enjoyed this thriller and the utterly creepy character of Daisy. The author did a great job of impending doom and the ending was well done. This was a good thriller with a great setting and layered characters. Would recommend.

Daisy Darker is one of my favorite homages to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None!

From the start Feeney fills the pages with a family tension that spans decades and generations. Every single member of the Darker family has something to hide. With the help of a mysterious person hellbent on revealing these secrets and getting more than a little murdery, the reader is able to watch the drama unfold. I love the tension that drips from the pages of this story as both the Darker family and the reader wait with baited breath to see who will be the next victim.

One of my favorite elements of this story was the inclusion of flashbacks to the Darker family past. With each of these flashbacks, a secret was revealed that lended hints to what was happening. Not only did they serve as clues, but they also helped form closer connections to the secondary characters.

There are a lot of red herrings and clues scattered throughout Daisy Darker as to the identity of the murderer. I was so confident I knew exactly what was happening, but I didn’t get it 100% correct. I’m very happy with guessing a part of the reveal and twist, but I love that Feeney was able to still shock me with more!

Daisy Darker is perfect for fans of locked room mysteries in secluded locations where the stakes are high!

Alice Feeney is definitely one of my favorite authors and I have read almost all of her books. We have probably hand sold over 70 copies of Sometimes I Lie. She is always the first author we recommend when a customer comes into the bookstore and wants suggestions for mystery/suspense. I chose Daisy Darker for our monthly book club. I thought the storyline was slightly different that what I have read from Alice and I loved it! The twists were amazing and every character had a reason to be the killer. Of course per usual, I didn't figure out who the "bad guy" was. Which is what makes it a great book for me. I don't want it to be predictable. I want it to keep me on my toes and challenge me.

Unfortunately I figured out the twist in this one really early on. While reading through, it just didn't do it for me. I was bored by the past timeline and wasn't sure why we were harping so much on mundane events.

There was one point where I realized I was skimming and thought about going back to find out what I missed... and realized I hadn't missed anything. That's the kind of book it was. Too long because it harped on the same things over and over again. And again, if I hadn't figured it out... maybe I would have enjoyed it more.

I hate every character in this story they all just whine and complain waiting for nana to die to get their inheritance. They are the definition of a dysfunctional family and I just wanted to slap everyone. I could have done without the poems in the story but maybe that’s just me. I’m not sure locked room mysteries are for me.

The cover art is absolutely beautiful and the story was amazing as always. Alice Feeney has never disappointed me. If any of you liked this read I HIGHLY suggest Sometimes I Lie!

The Darker family reunites on a small island to celebrate their family matriarch’s birthday. The island is only accessible during low tide, cutting them off the rest of the time. After they all arrive, and as a storm brews outside, they are isolated on the island. At midnight, their matriarch dies, and another death is to follow every hour.

Daisy Darker is told from Daisy’s point of view, in past and present. The Darker family is dysfunctional and eccentric, making for an entertaining read. The story unfolds in a slow burning and suspenseful way. Good for readers who enjoy family drama and slow building mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book and will be recommending it to those that enjoy psychological thrillers. Great characters and atmosphere.

Alice Feeney always delivers with her twists at the end of her books. From the beginning I thought I knew what would happen and Feeney definitely proved me wrong.
It a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Feeney’s writing definitely reminiscent of a modern Agatha Christie that thriller readers will absolutely love.

Alice Feeney never fails to deliver up a twist you never saw coming. I had one part of the story figured out but not the BIG twist...and then I said to myself, "Wait, what?" And then I was a little disappointed. If I mention what film this book reminds me of, it will spoil it immediately. Frankly, not a single person in the book is decent or likeable, and how they all treat each other is horrible. All that dysfunction in one family.

In all honesty, the biggest thrill for me in the book was that immediately prior to reading this book, I read another book with a character whose name was Poppy Patel - and in a strange little coincidence, one of the author grandmother's books was about a Poppy Patel, too. It was the weirdest coincidence.

So, if you're a hardcore Alice Feeney fan, I guess this is the book for you. If someone asks me what's a good Alice Feeney book to start with one, I don't think this is it. For me, I can say I read it, but it's not a favorite of mine by her, nor even one of my favorites I've read so far this year.

Daisy’s family meets at her Nana’s old, gothic home situated on a small tidal island to celebrate her 80th birthday. Cut off from the rest of the world and each family member with their own secret to hide, things take a dark turn when Nana turns up dead. With no way off the island for several hours and another person dying every hour, will any of them make it out alive? I really enjoyed this book. While it’s definitely paying homage to And Then There We’re None, it does so in a clever and interesting way. I was able to figure out the twist fairly early on but it didn’t take away from my ability to enjoy the story.

When the family matriarch extends an invitation for her milestone birthday, her family arrive to her remote home. Shortly after the festivities begin, she is found dead with a cryptic poem to unravel. As family relationships are frayed and past tensions are revealed another family member is found dead. Who or what is behind these deaths, why does the poem keep changing, and who is next? They must wait until the morning to leave due to the tide, but can the remaining members survive the night? Layered, creepy, and this will keep you guessing till the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Bookd for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Daisy Darker is a classic closed door thriller, reminiscent of The Guest List. It wasn’t as fast-paced as I would have expected. It starts slow and introduces each character in the family and the setting, Seaglass, a beautiful house on a tidal island in Wales. The pacing slowly picks up after the first murder and rapidly increases until the twist.
I loved the gorgeous setting and the way the story gently unfolded as you look closer and closer at the various members of the family and their secrets. Sadly, the ending did not work for me because it leveraged a plot device that I find frustrating, but the majority of the story was a solid read.

I love a thriller, especially one with a locked-room (or, in this case, an island) premise that leads you to point the finger at each character, one after the other. Daisy Darker's family is troubled, toxic, and tiring, but every character is painted with exquisite attention to detail -- it's almost enough to make you think your own family dynamic is healthy! While I pride myself on solving mysteries before a book reveals the answer, I had absolutely no idea what was coming. Without revealing the secret, let's just say the ending leaves you wanting to start the book over again with new eyes.

Daisy Darker is the story of a seriously dysfunctional family, tragedy, lies and revenge. The characters were interesting and there is a definite twist at the end.

Daisy Darker is the best book I have read by author Alice Feeney and, overall, probably one of the best mysteries I have ever read. I constantly kept guessing and was shocked by the ending. I'm looking forward to what this author will create next.