Excuse Me, Blowhole! 😳😯🤯😳😯🤯

Calamity cakes on fire! Geez almighty! This book was amazing and everything! Think Agatha Christie novels meets the game, Clue! I absolutely adored Nana and wanted her as my own! I cannot express how much I enjoyed listening to this book - whenever I had to pause it I was dying to get back to it. I HAD to know what was next. Feeney never fails for me and this is easily my second favourite of hers now, after His & Hers! Literary, thrilling queen of geniusness!

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Daisy Darker is the youngest of her family with two older sisters, a niece, her Mother, Father and adoring Nana. But it's been years since they all assembled at Nana's home on a tidal island. For her 80th birthday on Halloween, everyone shows up the day before. However, the stroke of midnight on Halloween, Nana is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. And every hour after that someone else dies. Someone has something against the Darker's and revenge is best served with unveiling everyone's secrets.

The ending had me thrown for an absolute fruit loop, loop! I saw none of it coming and wouldn't have guessed it for miles! This entire novel, was like eating popcorn during a suspenseful movie & just at the climax & reveal you shovel popcorn faster and faster into your mouth! I'm still reeling from that impeccable ending. Suspense & mystery are endless in this one guys! I will say, I got teary-eyed at the very end. Best work yet, Alice! I need coffee & my dog's cuddles STAT!

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ARC.
Release Date: August 30, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

You may still be poolside and basking in that summer sun, but it’s never too early to start planning your spooky season TBR. DAISY DARKER, the upcoming release by Alice Feeney, delivers atmosphere and a string of mysterious murders in spades.

Told in an hour by hour fashion, we meet the Darker family at their seaside island retreat on Halloween as high tide has them trapped inside. Slowly, members of the Darker family are murdered in meticulous ways. Each family member has secrets which are slowly revealed in flashbacks told through family home videos from the 1980s.

I love a good locked-room mystery and this clever story was no exception. The story was reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s infamous novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, but Daisy Darker felt fresh in its twists and turns. Feeney spent five years writing this book and this is evident with the well-crafted plot found within these pages.

I would highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Racine. Her English accent and intonation was precisely what the story needed. If you’re looking for the perfect atmospheric Halloween read, add Daisy Darker to your shelves!

RATING: 4/5

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “Daisy Darker” in exchange for an honest review. As always, I love Feeney’s writing. I appreciate her prose and her use of descriptive language without it being trite. I enjoy how she creates a strong sense of place. I have enjoyed reading all of her books. Unfortunately, this one was not my favorite. I think that there will be a lot of people out there who really love it though, and I think that’s great.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Alice Feeney and it ranks up there amongst my favorites.

It’s Nana’s 80th birthday and everyone gathers to celebrate in one of the darkest and deadliest family reunions I’ve ever read.

You see, there is more than just a little bit of tension between the family members. And as events unfold over time you learn everything that lies between them as one by one each family member turns up dead.

I thought the way the book unfolded was intriguing and loved the “Daisy Darker” premise. I didn’t guess the twist and the revelations were done in a way that I couldn’t wait to see who did it.

Daisy Darker…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

Thanks Andy Galley for giving me an ARC! I loved this book and read it in three days. Would definitely recommend to a friend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Knives Out meets And Then There Were None.

Daisy Darker has a secret.

The favourite grandchild of children’s author, Beatrice Darker, Daisy is born with a heart defect and dies eight times over the course of her life. We see her childhood in flashbacks over the course of one Halloween night, her grandmother’s birthday celebration. On this day, Nana decides to read her will to the entire family. There will be scores to settle, and Daisy is the only attendee who does not have an agenda. Or does she?

Throughout the novel, we see family members go missing, many twists and turns, and poems reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

Absolutely gorgeous and thrilling. Not an original concept, but it’s so well written that it doesn’t need to be. But the final twist! Amazing, stunning revolutionary.

And the audiobook is perfectly narrated.

This is the kind of thriller that demands an instant reread immediately after. I can’t say too much, but it is an instant favourite. Honestly, I need the movie right now. I’m hunting for the author’s backlist now.

Go find a copy immediately on August 30th! The perfect beachy, late summer to early Autumn read and it is set over Halloween!

Still so pumped about one of my most anticipated reads this year!

This book was delightful. Delightfully chilling but delightful. Alice Feeney said this was her favorite book to write and you can totally tell. It’s so wonderfully written and clever. I absolutely loved the setting. A lone seaside home on a private island surrounded by stormy seas. Sea Glass is old, odd and whimsical just like Nana who lives in it. Nana invites her incredibly dysfunctional family to Sea Glass for a birthday celebration/ reunion. They’ve avoided each other for years due to dark family secrets. When the tide comes in the Darker family is locked in for eight hours until it the tide goes back out. Soon after everyone arrives Nana is found dead. Not long after another family member follows. I cannot recommend the audiobook for this one enough. Stephanie Racine is so damn good. I realized she narrated all of Alice Feeneys books! This one is exceptional. Narration 10/10 👏🏻 Jump into this one without reading too much about it, it’s a fun one to go in blind.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Daisy Darker publishes August ‘22!

I listened to "Daisy Darker" through the audiobook selection and I could not - did not want to stop listening. The reader's voice was perfect, and she even did the different voices for the characters. This was my first Alice Feeney read - but it will not be my last. I enjoyed "Daisy Darker" and have already told friends about it. I couldn't guess the ending (which I love) and when I finished, I needed a moment to take it all in. I absolutely loved this book!

Let me start with this- go into this story blind. Stay away from blurbs! The less you know, the better!

Okay. I will admit- Rock, Paper, Scissors did NOT work for me. I love ambiguously gray characters. Villains can often be my favorite. But no matter how well written, if there is no one for me to cheer for, I disconnect.

Thank goodness for Daisy, the namesake in Daisy Darker. Her presence brings a much needed sense of morality to this dark tale of the Darker family. She truly remedied every issue I had in Rock, Paper, Scissors.

However, I do think you need to suspend some disbelief. Some of the final scenes didn’t seem to fit so well in the jigsaw puzzle of Daisy’s life which is the only reason I would give this a 4.5 instead of a full blown five stars. But I was still reeling from all the twists of the story that it didn’t take away from my ultimate enjoyment.

The narration of the audiobook is EXCELLENT. The sheer creepiness that Stephanie Racine brings, heightens the entire reading experience. I am curious if I would have loved the story the same without the range that Racine brought to every character.

For a creepy, atmospheric, dark audiobook- I cannot recommend Daisy Darker highly enough!

I've just discovered Alice Feeney and she is quickly becoming my new favorite author. Daisy Darker is her take/twist on Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". One twist at the end was expected, but the other two I was floored!! Good twists, cozy setting, and dysfunctional family drama... what's not to love! Narrator was fabulous as well.

#DaisyDarker #NetGalley #Edelweiss
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review.

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to the audio format of Daisy Darker. Alice Feeney has written another great book! For me, I’m not sure reading the book rather than listening to the audio would have kept me as enthralled.. The narrator, Stephanie Racine, has a beautiful English accent that is very easy to listen to. The storyline’s hourly chapters are well paced and the characters are despicable. I listened to Daisy Dark while in the car and found myself wanting to encounter traffic so that I could listen to additional chapters, before reaching my destinations.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Alice Feeney for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook ARC.

“Daisy Darker’s family were as dark as dark can be, when one of them died all of them lied and pretended not to see . . .”

DAISY DARKER
Thank you, Alice Feeney, NetGalley, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read this book. It releases on August 30th, 2022.

I have read every single Alice Feeney book and I always will. I love her books so much that I don’t think I could even pick a favorite. When I got the email from Macmillian Audio that I got an early copy of Daisy Darker, I cheered out loud!–My husband is used to this when I check my emails. I think this is probably Alice Feeney’s most ambitious book yet, as it feels inspired by And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

The Darker family has never really been close. Daisy and her sisters are all named after flowers. The oldest is Rose, next is Lily, and then there is Daisy. But Daisy was born with a broken heart. She watched as her sisters basked in their parent's adoration and attended school, while she was always home and left out. Except when it came to Nana, who is actually a famous children’s author who wrote a series called, Daisy Darker. Now it is years later, and Nana has called for a reunion for her 80th birthday. Daisy’s parents come, and so do Rose, Lily, and Lily’s daughter Trixie. They are also joined by a man named Connor who grew up next door. There is a purpose to this reunion–for Nana wants to disclose what is in her will. But someone else has plans too. The first death catches them all by surprise and at first, they are convinced it is an accident until they see a familiar rhyme written in chalk on the wall…

YESSSS. I absolutely adore Alice Feeney’s way of writing. She definitely knows how to write a psychological thriller. Nothing is as it seems. NOTHING. You would think I would be prepared for what is to come having read all of her previous books, but NOPE. As always, she shocked me with her dark twists!

All of Alice Feeney’s books really focus on dysfunctional families and the Darker family is no different. This book is filled with the worst betrayals and the worst secrets. While the book jumps back and forth between the present and Daisy’s childhood, readers will be trying to eliminate the suspects and that is difficult because it could be anyone. I am still whirling from the ending. I thought I had it all pieced together but Alice Feeney always likes to sneak a final twist in at the very end. And once again, this book is narrated by Stephanie Racine who is one of the best. She always knows how to bring that tense aesthetic to Alice Feeney’s books! Trust me, add this book to your TBR!

Gah I don't want to give anything away I did not see the ending coming at all and this is one of those books where you almost want to start over again just to see all the hints you missed!! Feeney doesn't disappoint with this one!!

Stephanie Racine's narration was excellent! Everyone had their own voice and Racine brought the emotion!

I am sad I have to wait 2 month before I can start recommending this people! Pre-order this one you won't be disappointed!

4 Stars

I received this book from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This book was a phenomenal twist on one of my forever favorites - And Then There Were None.

I loved the setting of this book and the claustrophobic feeling caused by the tide and circumstances. I really enjoyed getting to know each character in the family through a mix of throwbacks and present day information. I did not see the twists coming at all. I had my guesses but I was dead wrong. And I love that I was! I have read so many crappy thriller/mystery endings recently, but this one was awesome!

This was also a perfect audiobook. The narrator had a beautiful, soothing voice and accent that just worked so well with the story, especially when reading the poems. Loved it!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to review this book!

You are cordially invited to the Darker family reunion!

What: Nana’s 80th birthday
Where: Sea Glass Estate on Black Sand Bay
When: October 30, 2004
How: Come at low tide
Why: to celebrate Nana

RSVP: by August 30th!

A palm reader once told Nana that she wouldn’t live past 80 years old. Convinced this is her last birthday, she invites her estranged family members to Sea Glass to celebrate.

The Darker family are a miserable, selfish bunch, who only care about themselves and how much money they have.

Everyone has a their own reason for attending the party.

You will meet Frank and Nancy.
Their daughters Rose, Lilly and Daisy.
Lilly’s daughter, Trixie.
Connor, the neighbor.
And Poppins the dog.

Grab your card and punch in for a birthday celebration!

When one family member is found murdered every hour, the rest must solve the puzzle before they wind up dead.

In a family filled with devastating secrets, no one will go unpunished.

Daisy Darker can best be described as And Then There Were None meets We Were Liars.

It is a fantastic gothic tale and murder mystery filled with domestic drama and suspense. With 1980s nostalgia and an unsavory cast of characters that you will love to hate, this is an unputdownable thriller that will have you guessing until the end. Pay close attention to the clues, or you might be next!

Stephanie Racine’s stellar five star narration of the audiobook is not to be missed.

Alice Feeney has done it again! You do not want to be tardy to this party.

4.5/5 rounded up

Expected publication date: 8/30/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of Daisy Darker in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Wow!!! This was excellent!!

I loved the writing.
I love the story.
I love the narrator.

A great story resembling Agatha's "And Then There Were None" but with a different ending and great twists, that I did not find predictable at all.

This is one of those awesome books that keep you guessing till the very end and I love that so, so much!

Most chapters are ending in a cliffhanger which make this book a real page turner.

A huge thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this excellent book!

After an incident in her childhood that led to a falling out with her entire family, Daisy Darker and her relatives reunite at Sea Glass, the island home where Daisy spent summers as a child, for Nana's 80th birthday. When the tide comes in, the family is trapped on the island and things turn dark and dangerous. Nana is found dead and creepy messages begin to appear, threatening the lives of the rest of the Darker family.

Daisy Darker is the wildest ride! A perfect locked-room mystery filled with a cast of unique and interesting characters each with their own baggage and secrets. You never quite know who to suspect. Everyone in the Darker family seems equally capable and, at the same time, it seems quite impossible that any of them could be the perpetrator. The twists and turns and reveals kept me on the edge of my seat right until the huge twist ending that knocked me right out of my chair.

I can imagine that any format of this book would be perfect, but I highly recommend the audiobook. Stephanie Racine captures the voice of the narrator so perfectly. Her narration brings the story from words on a page to living characters. I felt so engrossed in the story thanks to her narration. She captures the terror felt by the family, the loneliness of Daisy after the family's falling out, and the emotional baggage of every member of the Darker family.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone who loves a great mystery or thriller and wants something that feels slightly familiar but is still unique and exciting!

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. Born with a broken heart Daisy Darker is Nana's favorite granddaughter. Nana is the famous author of children's books based on Daisy Darker. Nana stole this story for me with all her words of wisdom. This is a mystery, family drama, and a bit of a gothic story all set in Nana's old victorian house she calls Seaglass on an island you can only reach depending on the tide. One by one the darker family is being murdered, along with clues and clever poems this is the perfect setting for murder.

What a trippy, twisty, thriller! The literature background with homage to Agatha Christie, the family dysfunction, the secluded setting, and so many more reasons that makes this one of my favorite books of the year so far. Daisy Darker is the beloved granddaughter of renowned children’s author, Beatrice Darker and the inspiration behind her bestselling series. Beatrice decides to call her family, Daisy’s father, mother, two sisters and niece to the family island home, Seaglass, for her birthday which happens to be on October 31st. While she has her family captive Beatrice lets them know what will happen to the wealth. As the family members start to squabble, death comes to visit with a mysterious poem that soon becomes the script for how they will all meet their end. Full of suspense and twists and love and hurt this book had me captured. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio version of this book!