Alice Feeney, you're a sly fox!

Entertaining, thrilling, page turner of a read! It's got everything you need for a creepy, atmospheric story- old, creaky house in a remote location cut off from society most of the day by tides, a large cast of jerks, Halloween, and slow, methodical deaths of said jerks, and poetry.

There are three main twists, one I was hoping for, one I pretty much guessed, and one that made me want to reread the book just to see if I really missed all those clues! I must have been reading too fast.

Seriously fun, totally unrealistic, but you won't care because you'll be enthralled.

Recommended for patrons looking for a modern Agatha Christie novel, or those looking to get out of a book slump. Worked for me!

Audiobook is very well narrated with just the right amount of tension to add to the telling.

Daisy Darker is the story of the Darker family, who come together for the first time in years for Nana's 80th Birthday, which she says will be her last.

The tide comes in, leaving them stranded on the island without the option to escape. What could be worse than being trapped with your miserable family overnight? It could be that someone there is picking them off, one by one. Each hour there seems to be a new murder. But who would do such a thing? Could it be someone in the family, or is someone else on the island with them?

As dark secrets from the past and present are revealed, a clear story reveals itself. You thought your family was bad? Wait until you meet the Darkers.

Daisy Darker begins by creating a very ominous setting and an even more ominous cast of characters. Nana's house itself is like a character, with its many clocks, eclectic furniture, and creepy nooks and crannies. We then meet the Darker family, one at a time. It's safe to say that I'm glad not to be related to any of them, except maybe Nana who truly fits all of those wonderful Grandparent characteristics that wrap you with a hug.

Quite soon after the story starts, our first Darker family member is killed off. But they wouldn't be the only one - a new family member is killed off nearly every chapter! As we hear from Daisy's perspective of the present, she also shares about the past, and one horrible night in particular that everyone wishes they could forget about. The story concludes in true Alice Feeney fashion, with a big twist leaving you feeling like you should go back and read the book all over again!

I will say that compared to past Alice Feeney books, I didn't enjoy this quite as much. The twist, while surprising, is one I didn't enjoy. I can't say why without spoiling it, so I will just say that I felt a bit cheated by it. But it was still well done and well written. I'm sure there are many who will love the twist and not agree with me on this one!

I enjoyed the audiobook version of Daisy Darker, which was narrated by Stephanie Racine, who also narrated His & Hers, Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Sometimes I Lie. I can see why Feeney chooses Racine to narrate her books - she does a wonderful job! Her tone of voice sounds eerie and ominous which truly adds to the way I felt throughout the whole book. Her narration was clear, the flow was smooth, and her voice truly adds an extra element to the book that I am grateful I got to experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of Daisy Darker for the ARC of this audiobook!

My final rating: 4.5/5.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Nana is turning 80 and the family has been summoned to the tidal island upon which she resides. Once the tide is in they are all on the island for 8 hours. The broken family is full of secrets and ill-will towards one another. When nana is found dead at the stroke of midnight the mystery begins and it is a wild ride until the tide goes out and all is revealed.

Daisy Darker is a whodunit reminiscent of Agatha Christie told in one POV. The setting of Nana's home, Sea Glass, provided an isolated and creepy backdrop for the murder mystery.

Feeney has such a way with descriptions and evocative language. Her characters dialogue and inner thoughts always leave me on edge. I'm constantly waiting to pick up the clues and do prefer her work on audio for the tension.

The plot of Daisy Darker unfortunately left me underwhelmed. There was nothing particularly new or fresh within this story for me. I have many questions and feel there was less skilled maneuvering done to get the plot it ended up. The audiobook performance was very enjoyable but Daisy Darker isn't a favourite among Feeney's titles.

Stephanie Racine is a master at mystery/thriller narration! She has impeccable pacing and voice work, which makes for incredibly atmospheric and tense works.

CW: murder, child abuse, alcoholism, suicide, terminal illness, medical content, emotional abuse, grief, animal death, bullying

Wow, I loved this. The narrator was great and the story kept me compelled - the only character aspect that gave me pause was explained by the ending (which I did not predict!) Maybe just shouldn’t have finished this alone in the dark…

I a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book was so riveting. I wanted to stay up past my bedtime to finish it. Such great writing too. So many great quotes I could pull from the book. The plot flowed well and the characters were very well developed. I had an inkling on what might happen at the end but was still so shocked the way it came together and didn’t seem too over the top.

The narrator was amazing and really drew you into the story.

I wanted to like this one..SO MUCH. I am a big Alice Feeney fan but this one fell a little flat compared to His & Hers and Rock, Paper, Scissors. The twist at the end took me by surprise and I still can't figure out if I like it or not? It's hard to talk about without spoilers but it felt very out of left field. It wasn't the WORST thriller by any means, but I was a bit disappointed. 3.5 stars.

A totally unputdownable thriller !! Flawlessly plotted, the story unfolds in layers, each one more shocking than the last. If you enjoy books that are fast-paced, have multiple povs, and are full of plot twists until the very end, then this book may be for you!

Daisy darker was one of the best books I have read in a long time! I enjoyed this book very much and the point of you it was written from. This book had me guessing all the way up until the very end of the story. The setting was wonderful and all of the characters were well rounded characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook for review. I’ve read every Alice Feeney book and this might be my favorite. The nod to And Then There Were None was a nice plot choice. I definitely did not predict the twist and immediately after it happened, I wanted to start the book over to really pick up on all the clues. What a fun page Turner that kept me enraptured the whole way. 4.5 stars

Creepy and unexpected! I would recommend this to any readers who are interested in a thriller / suspense genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by the wonderful Alice Feeney, wonderfully narrated by Stephanie Racine - 5 stars!

Daisy Darker's entire family is assembling for her Nana's 80th birthday at her gothic manor located on a tidal island. Once the family assembles and the tide comes in, it will be 8 hours before they can leave. The family arrives - Nancy (never called Mom), their father, the three Darker sisters (Rose, Lily and Daisy), their niece, and family friend, Connor. But by the time the first of Nana's 80 clocks strikes midnight, Nana is dead. An hour later, another family member is also dead. And so it goes on...

I was so thrilled to get lost in another Alice Feeney world - and this one was fabulous! I love a good locked room mystery, where the atmosphere is tense and a part of the plot, and everyone is suspect. Everyone is holding on to secrets from their past as well as a whole lot of family dysfunction. Clear your calendar and do not miss this book!

I really liked this book! I found it to be a great thriller that kept me guessing the whole time. I never really thought I knew the ending, and I was definitely surprised! You won’t be disappointed!

I've read everything Alice Feeney has written and so far, this novel is my absolute favorite! The author, herself, has said this is her favorite.
Daisy Darker has a broken heart and a terrible family. The family has been invited to Sea Glass, the home inhabited by Daisy's very wealthy & eccentric Nana for her 80th birthday celebration. Nana is a famous children's book author; her most famous work is named after Daisy herself. The family is hoping Nana will reveal her will so they all show up together to spend the weekend. But when Daisy's niece, Trixie, finds Nana dead in the kitchen at midnight and a strange poem on the chalk board, they are very concerned about what it all could mean. Was it an accident? Did Nana fall and mortally wound herself or is something more insidious going on? This is the most clever locked-room mystery since And Then There Were None. Agatha Christie would be proud!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an audio version of this novel.*

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

I did not have any expectations going into this book since I was not a fan of Feeney’s previous book (Rock Paper Scissors). But oh, boy, this book really got me. I was hooked from the beginning. On the author’s note, Alice Feeney reveals Daisy Darker is her favorite novel, and it has become one of my favorites too.

The novel has some Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None vibes. The family depicted in this novel, The Darkers, have never been close and now they have to get together on a private island off the Cornish coast to celebrate Nana’s 80th birthday. At nighttime the tide rolls out and it makes the island inescapable. In this isolated setting is where Feeney sets her whodunnit while one by one the characters get knocked off.

The narration goes back and forth in time giving the reader a full picture of what is going on with each character of this story. We learn more about Daisy’s childhood and about the whole family dynamics. Secrets are revealed and nothing is at it seems. I was not expecting the reveal, and the plot twist left me open-mouthed. I really liked this book and ended up giving five stars.

The audiobook is narrated by Stephanie Racine who makes you feel as though you are stranded in this island with the Darker family, watching the plot unfolds in front of you. Daisy Darker is a page turner and if I was not a fan of Alice Feeney, I have become one. I loved everything about this book.

If you like playing detective, if you are a fan of Agatha Christie’s books or if you like the idea of a claustrophobic story in which everybody is trapped and no one can get out, pick this one out.

This is a boring book with an amazing plot twist. It would be a two star read if not for the twist at the end. The set up was very interesting. An estranged family with histories loaded with secrets, a reclusive grandmother, and a bizarre house on a remote island.

When the mystery started I was hooked and expected a fast-paced, tense story with everyone turning against each other. Instead, I got a slow drawn-out exploration of every single detail of the family drama. All from the perspective of a very whiney narrator. I either love or hate family drama in books. But when it's the only focus of the book it really loses my interest. The constant flashbacks were what really weighed down the story for me. Far too much time was spent in the past just for most of the flashbacks to add nothing substantial to the story. Everyone in the family hates each other. Got it the first time.

The characters were incredibly one dementional. They fit their stereotype and nothing more: really bad sister, sister that seems nice but is equally bad, emotionally distant mother, absent father, male friend that main character has complicated feelings towards, and naive child. I thought Daisy would turn out to be a very interesting main character. Their were hints of potential in the flashbacks but because nothing happened with them she just became annoying. Her moments of reflection felt very repetitive and unnecessarily profound.

I spent the whole book waiting for the reveal because I didn't care about the process of getting to the end. I really thought I had it figured out. Though one of my theories was correct, the main twist caught me completely by surprise. Part of me feels like the reveal was a little cheap. I think some people won't enjoy it depending on their opinions on this type of twist. But I can honestly say I did not see it coming!

The ties to And Then There Were None were very obvious. However, Alice Feeney added a unique twist to the classic set up that I really enjoyed!

I would also recommend the audiobook if you are interested because the narrator does an excellent job! I was really impressed by how much emotion she was able to convey.

5/5 stars!

Wow! I loved this story. It’s Halloween night, and a palm read told Daisys grandmother she won’t make it to her 80th birthday(tonight).

The clock strikes 12, and Nana passes away. One by one family members keep dying and they can’t figure out who is doing it. I loved the ending! Did not see that coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was an eerie, slow-burn thriller that pays homage to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." Growing up, I was such a fan of this classic whodunnit mystery, and I was excited to read Daisy Darker as a result. While I enjoyed the suspense and secrets revealed throughout much of the storyline, It wasn't until I finished this story that I really appreciated what Alice Feeney had put together. Upon reading it, go back and relisten to the prologue-- then maybe you'll feel similarly. Also, I thought that the audiobook was fantastically done.

One of the best books I have read all year.

I love strange family dynamics in books and this one has it in spades. The Darker family is full of secrets and everyone is a mess in their own way. I loved it! Daisy was such a fantastic narrator in this story. She does a great job of showing the love she has for them even in their dysfunction.

This is a whodunnit-type read where the Darker family all arrive at Seaglass, the island home of Daisy’s grandmother for her 80th birthday celebration. Though soon, the celebration turns deadly and this family is out through the worst of the worst.

Stephanie Racine does an absolute splendid job voicing this story! She carries you along with her words in such a way that give even more to the already great story. I will be seeking out more books narrated by Racine.

This is one that you want to go in about as blind as possible. Go in blind and simply enjoy the ride!

I am a big fan of Alice Feeney’s books and Daisy Darker was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. With His & Hers and Rock Paper Scissors being among my favourite thrillers, I had some pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit the mark and just ended up being an okay read for me.

The book started off with great promise. Taking place in an old gothic home on a remote island during a storm and isolated due to high tide, it was incredibly atmospheric. I am a big fan of locked room mysteries and Daisy Darker probably had the most claustrophobic and unsettling setting I’ve ever encountered. There is a palpable tension among the family members, and I was eager to know their backstories as well as the reasons for the animosity between them. While I don’t mind a slow burn if it benefits the plot, I couldn’t help but feel the book really dragged. There were many flashbacks, and while some were necessary, others simply felt like filler. I will applaud the audiobook narrator though. Her performance helped me to stay engaged when I felt like I was losing interest.

Alice Feeney is also known for her twists, but in this case I did end up guessing it. It wasn’t a deal breaker, and I did like it, but you have to suspend disbelief. Honestly, you have to suspend disbelief for a lot of the events that happened, and I found myself questioning how they would even happen or what would have played out beyond those final pages.

If you’re a Feeney fan or enjoy locked room thrillers, I still recommend giving this book a try. Many other Feeney fans have loved it and were shocked by the big twist. While this one won’t be my favourite from her, she’ll remain an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to her next book.

Many thanks to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.