Member Reviews
It is Daisy's grandmother's eighth birthday and the entire family has gathered at her house to celebrate. Nana lives in a sprawling mansion that is cut off by high tide twice a day. The celebration is forced because this is no happy family. Nana is a famous author; her most famous book is Daisy Darker named after her favorite granddaughter, Daisy. There are three sisters, their parents and the neighbor boy who spent most of his childhood with the girls.
The mother is Nancy, who showed favoritism to her two older daughters, Rose and Lily. She alternated between ignoring Daisy and over protecting her as Daisy was born with a broken heart and had numerous operations to try to keep her from dying. The father is Nana's son but his musical career was more important to him than his family and he and Nancy divorced and the girls rarely saw him after that.
Rose is now a vet. She had an early love affair with Conor, the neighbor boy but never had another serious love or married. She devotes herself to her career. Lily is the spoiled one, a mother herself. Trixie is her fifteen year old daughter, no news on who the father was. Lily was the kind of teenager who was boy crazy and would do anything to get attention. Conor is now a journalist, his days of living with a brutal, alcoholic father long gone.
Now someone is killing all the family while they are cut off from help and a storm rages. One person dies each hour. Who is doing the killing and who will survive?
Alice Feeney is known for her thrillers, often involving family relationships. As each person dies, their secrets and backstory are revealed. The sisters were never close, Daisy envying the older girls and those two locked in a rivalry and feud that has lasted for decades. There are twists and turns and few readers will see the ending beforehand. I listened to this novel and the narrator's voice made it an even more entrancing read. This book is recommended for readers of psychological thrillers.
Alice Feeney is the queen of twisty and dark stories! This was a quick read and I loved it. The narrator brought the story to life and even helped me to keep track of all of the family members in Daisy Darker. Although I'd thought that I'd figured it out, I was shocked by the twists. I cannot wait for Feeney's next book, as she is becoming a favourite author. I've now gone back and read all of her previous books and they are all worth a read.
**Book Review: "Daisy Darker" by Alice Feeney**
Alice Feeney's "Daisy Darker" is an electrifying thriller that plunges readers into a world of suspense, deception, and chilling psychological twists. From the first page to the shocking conclusion, Feeney masterfully navigates the complexities of her characters and the dark secrets they harbor, delivering a gripping narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.
At the heart of "Daisy Darker" is its enigmatic protagonist, whose unreliable narration adds layers of intrigue and suspense. Feeney deftly explores themes of identity, memory, and the haunting power of the past, creating a compelling portrait of a woman grappling with the shadows of her own mind. As the protagonist's memories unravel and truths come to light, the reader is taken on a thrilling journey of discovery and revelation.
The plot is intricately plotted, filled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave you breathless. Feeney's ability to blend psychological suspense with a tightly woven mystery is exceptional, keeping the reader on edge as they piece together the puzzle alongside the protagonist. Each chapter builds upon the suspense, ratcheting up the tension until the final, explosive climax.
Feeney's writing is atmospheric and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse you in the eerie and unsettling world of "Daisy Darker." The prose is crisp and haunting, capturing the psychological complexities of the characters and the eerie ambiance of the novel's settings. From the quiet streets of a small town to the shadowy corners of the protagonist's mind, every detail is meticulously crafted to heighten the sense of unease and suspense.
Moreover, the supporting characters in "Daisy Darker" are equally well-drawn and integral to the story's depth. Each character brings their own secrets and motivations to the table, adding layers of complexity to the narrative and keeping the reader guessing about their true intentions.
In conclusion, "Daisy Darker" is a masterful thriller that showcases Alice Feeney's talent for crafting suspenseful and thought-provoking narratives. With its unforgettable protagonist, intricate plot, and atmospheric prose, this novel is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and thrillers. "Daisy Darker" is a gripping and unforgettable journey into the darkest corners of the human psyche, leaving readers spellbound and eager for more from this talented author.
While the author clearly intended to pay homage to Agatha Christie, this book unfortunately ends up feeling more like a derivative reinterpretation. Feeney skillfully delivers her trademark twists, which fans appreciate. However, I found myself struggling with several plot holes that were difficult to overlook, along with characters making decisions without clear motivation. Additionally, there were moments that felt unrealistic, particularly given the tense circumstances of the story. Despite these criticisms, Feeney's ability to craft surprising twists remains a standout feature of her writing.
I adored Daisy Darker and this tense and twisty story. It had a foreboding atmosphere, unlikable characters, and a deeply dysfunctional family dynamic that made for a read I couldn't put down. I definitely didn't expect everything to unfold the way it did, but I enjoyed every page of this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advance copy.
This was my first book by Alice Feeny that I read/listened to. It was a pretty good story, nice twists.
"Daisy Daker" by Alice Feeney is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Feeney's masterful storytelling weaves a complex narrative full of twists and turns, leaving readers guessing until the very end. The character of Daisy Daker is both compelling and mysterious, drawing readers into her world of secrets and deception. Feeney's prose is sharp and evocative, creating a tense atmosphere that will leave readers eagerly turning pages late into the night. Overall, "Daisy Daker" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, offering a thrilling ride from beginning to end. As for the narrator, Stephanie Racine has always been a favorite of mine. She has a beautiful voice, and I’ve loved her historical fiction novels for a while now.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Feeney, and Macmillan for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Hands down the most twisty book I’ve read this year! I could not put this book down. I had so many theories and I was wrong about all of them. I need to go back and read again now that I know what really happened and see what I missed!
I really enjoyed finding out all of the secrets and mysteries of the Darker family. I also liked the family dynamics and the character development of the three sisters, Rose, Lily, and Daisy, I thought they were well done. The narrator did an excellent job as well. While I didn't really care for the resolution and I cannot say why, you'll understand what wasn't my cup of tea upon reading the book. Other than that, the stories back in time that shaped the people the sister's would become were great. Thank you #NetGalley for my copy
Alice Feeney is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. As usual, this book is exquisitely crafted and tosses several unexpected twists and turns. The characters evoke strong feelings, and the plot keeps moving at a satisfying pace. The narrator does an excellent job conveying the emotions of the characters and adds depth and feeling to the story.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page! It's incredibly atmospheric. I felt like I was there on the cliffside feeling the misty ocean breeze. I did figure out the twist beforehand so I might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen that coming, but overall I really enjoyed it!
I couldn’t get into this one. Might pick it up another time, but right now it doesn’t seem to be catching my attention! I have heard great things from other people though.
I had no clue what was going on with this book and the final reveal literally had me gasping and yelling out loud.
I love when books force our emotions to surface.
Perfectly twisted, dark, not overly scary, and a dash of magic; this book was the best thriller book-binge I've had in awhile.
Wow. This book was great. There were so many rime where i was absolutely sure that I knew what was going to happen. Only to be proven wrong and shocked at every twist and turn this story took. I was completely blindsides by the ending of this. It is a bit of a slow start but is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. I honestly thought it was an average story and the end was supposed to be a twist but it felt lazy and disappointing.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an audiobook.
Alice Feeney is a master at twists and turns and Daisy Darker is another hit! She does an incredible job creating a likable narrator. I also love any book that has drama when it comes to family dynamics.
Great story and the narrator had me hooked I couldn't wait to hear how the story ended.
Daisy Darker is a haunted tale that takes place one Halloween night. The Darker family gathers together to celebrate their grandmother’s birthday. Throughout the night family members turn up dead with notes of clues as to who is doing the killing.
This book with keep your attention as you try to figure out who the killer is and why they would want to kill their family members.
There aren't even enough ways for me to explain how much I enjoy a retelling of And Then There Were None if it's done well, and this one is done very well. The mood is creepy and dark, the vibes are ominous, and every single character has a secret that makes them suspicious. The fact that they are all family members is icing on the fiction cake! The narration was top notch, with voice acting and inflection that really took me further into the story. I'd highly recommend it!
So, I'm going to do something I never thought I'd do—give a book a rating that includes a half-star. For me, this was a ★★★+ read. Though the writing was great—atmospheric and appropriately moody—it took far too long for the story itself to grab me. It meandered along for a while as part family drama, part mystery for more than three-quarters of the book, with members of the Darker clan inexplicably dying off one by one, with the entire drama being narrated by Daisy, the family outcast.
For much of the book, the death of each victim was less interesting than the gradual exposition of the family's transgressions toward Daisy. And the question of why Daisy viewed herself as an outcast eventually proved much more compelling than the need to uncover the perpetrator; and when the answer to Daisy's estrangement came, it was much too late BUT (and this is a big 'but') the backstory and resolution to the mystery of that estrangement is VERY intriguing. It literally rescued the book for me, and left me wishing that the author had given us even more about how Daisy and her family wound up where they were. The snippets of time and incidents given to us, and the hints at the Darker family dynamics were detailed and provocative but did not fully explain the motivations of the characters, especially of Daisy's mother and sisters. And most especially, those details did not explain the murderous actions taken by the perpetrator. The clue to that deficiency came the way it always comes—when the author included a scene where the 'villain' give a long explanation of why they did what they did. If their motivation isn't evident to the reader, in my opinion, then something in the story structure needs to be reworked.
Ultimately, the concept was amazing, but the execution fell just short of its full potential.
Audiobook Note: Excellent narrator. Very emotionally evocative, especially toward the very end when the story takes a turn that's melancholy. The voice and tone of the narrator foreshadowed that turn extremely well, even before the details of it were revealed.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book. The narrator was effective in creating a tense and mysterious mood that couples with the writing well. As always, Alice Feeney is incredible in her mysterious thrillers. The gothic aspects were amazing and just what this book needed.