I have loved all of Alice feenys books so I went in hoping to love her newest. I more then loved and enjoyed every minute! So atmospheric gives you fun thrills and gothic vibes. I loved the isolated setting and the beach. The character development and writing was just amazing. The twist at the end still gives me chills.

This narration is wonderful. The story itself is completely insane… in the best possible way. A must read for fans of twisty thrillers. I couldn’t put it down.

Alice Feeney always keeps her readers guessing and this is the best one yet! I resisted the urge to "figure it out" and instead enjoyed this locked room mystery/thriller. Even when the reader has that lightbulb moment of guessing the twist, Feeney keeps the suspense going with yet another twist at the conclusion. The narrator of the audiobook was fantastic at building suspense. A great addition to collections that serve patrons who love this genre!

4.5 stars

Cleverly written mystery thriller in the vein of And Then There Were None.

Many years ago, a palm reader predicted that Nana, Beatrice Darker, wouldn't live beyond the age of 80, and so she has invited the entire family to her island estate of Seaglass to celebrate the momentous birthday. Her son Frank, his ex-wife Nancy, their three daughters: Rose, Lily, and Daisy, and Lily's daughter Trixie, along with old family friend Conor are in attendance. But every member of the Darker family is hiding secrets, some more sinister than others.

Told from the point of view of Daisy, there is family drama galore and many surprises. One thing I figured out in advance and the other major surprise I should have figured out but I was just going along for the ride, so I was thrilled when all was revealed. As the hours pass with the family stranded with no means to communicate with the outside world, and then the bodies start accumulating--and then disappearing--it's difficult to know who is lying and who is telling the truth, and that's one of the most exciting parts of this mysterious tale.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and Stephanie Racine (who has narrated, at least in part, all of Feeney's other novels) does a spectacular job of giving Daisy her voice and mannerisms that both endear her to the reader and yet make the reader a bit suspicious of her as well.

I feel like Feeney's novels are getting better and better with each one and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I really loved the narrator-- I'm a sucker for the smooth voiceover with a British accent and this performer enhanced an already great book.

Daisy Darker was born with a broken heart. Now after years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in her crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. When the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.
- I LOVED (!) this book. The tension that builds as the hours loom ahead, not knowing who to trust and who is on the island threatening the Darker family was reminiscent of THE GUEST LIST but I think I enjoyed this book even more. Moody, menacing, and with the clever storytelling device of the playful, appealing poems about each member of the Darker family, this book is a deep look at family dysfunction, betrayal, greed, with a supernatural twist. Very good!

I received this an audio ARC through NetGalley. Stephanie Racine did a superb job of narrating Daisy Darker. It gave out Clue and And Then There Were None feels throughout the whole book. Alice Feeney keeps you guessing until the end who is responsible for the string of deaths of the Darker family. And man, could the Darker family be dark, selfish, and just plain out deplorable!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney.
This was my first Alice Feeney novel and it won't be my last. The story of a family trapped on an island while someone is killing them one by one. So many secrets, so many suspects! Feeney does an excellent job making all the characters capable of murder. Unexpected twists keep the reader engaged until the end. Narrator, Stephanie Racine is the perfect voice for Daisy Darker. Her British accent and quiet tone add to the mood of the story. This is the best mystery I've read this year!

Alice Feeney has delivered with this riveting and propulsive thriller!!! She will take you on a wild ride and bang…it’s over!!!

Seaglass is the Victorian house owned by Beatrice Darker that is cut off from the coast for 8 hours every day when the tide comes in. Beatrice(Nana) has invited her son, his ex wife, their three daughters and her one great grand daughter to Seaglass so she can read her will before her 80th birthday.

Who will inherit the house? Who will make it through the night? Is there someone else in the house with them??

Throughly enjoyed this one!! Very well developed characters, interesting storyline and a great ending.

Thank you for the early audio copy.

This is an immersive, dark, and twisty locked-room mystery. The characters are very interesting, and the story is gripping right through to the very end.

I enjoyed this dark, twisty story. What a perfect read for Halloween weekend it will be! While none of the characters were what I'd call likable, they weren't completely unlikable either. I could at least sympathize with Daisy and wanted good things for her. The setting was fantastic! Trapped in the house on an island, cut off from the rest if the world until low tide. This was a spooky, fun ride.

“𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚. 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”

An homage to And Then There Were None, set on an island where a family is being picked off one by one? SIGN ME UP! I LOVED Alice Feeney’s debut Sometimes I Lie, and have been meaning to catch up with her other books; I’m grateful that I got to read her newest (although it is very different from her other writing).

I listened to Daisy Darker on audiobook, read by Stephanie Racine. Racine’s narration had me hooked, using slight voice changes pending on the characters and fully embracing the creepiness of the nursery rhyme that spelled out the Darker family’s end. Her narration made it easy to follow and I was creating mind movies in my head the whole time. Christie’s influence is found all over the text, including the setting of Seaglass House perched on its own tiny island cut off until low tide, the sharing of the will (similar to UN Own’s letter), people with guilty secrets gathered together and a creepy poem. The family gathering for Nana’s birthday dinner also reminded me of a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote (another favourite). Feeney’s writing is atmospheric, and the suspense factor builds all around as each murder takes place and the clock ticks down to low tide. Moving bodies, mysterious footsteps, and a game of Scrabble add to the spooky factor. I loved the VHS tapes that the family watched as a narrative device to visit the past, with family drama abound. Being a big fan of Christie’s work, I did have an idea of one of the major reveals; the other big twist I definitely didn’t see coming but when I went back over the text, it made a lot of sense with earlier clues. It definitely is a twist that won’t please everyone though.

Daisy Darker is a story about being noticed, families, secrets, stories, forgiveness, revenge, and stories. It is a modern tribute to And Then There Were None and would make for a wonderful mini series. A big thank you to MacMillan and Flatiron Audio for the ARC!

Where do I begin? Is it ok to begin a book review with a question mark or two? I say YES! I read His & Hers by Alice Feeney so I was expecting something along the same line as that story. This book is its own entity! Last year I read One By One by Ruth Ware so as I was reading this book I was getting the same vibe. For you Ruth Ware and Agatha Christie fans, this book is for you!

The Darker family is eccentric and secretive. No one really knows them. They are all very unrevealing people who are into themselves and not very warm. Nana is turning 80 and invites all of the Darker family to the family home for a reunification and birthday celebration. They haven’t all been together for quite some time. Her son and his ex-wife with whom he shares three daughters and a son with will both be there and Nana has one 16 year old granddaughter, Trixie, whom she is very close to. She will read her will to them and as they arrive no one knows what it will say. Yet, another secretive little game for the Darker family.

One by one, family members begin to die and it is hard to predict who will be next. The story flashes back to the time the siblings were all younger and it is predominantly from Daisy’s POV, but not always. Daisy is troubled and sickly and at times I wanted to reach out and hug her. The biggest red herring here is at the end which is always exciting. I did not figure this one out and was pleasantly surprised at the conclusion. I can’t elaborate more or it will become a spoiler review.

Great murder mystery by Alice Feeney. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC of this book.

Immersive audiobook by Alice Feeney. Felt like I was on that island and in that house. This is a locked-room mystery and was intriguing and gripping. Narration was excellent. Characters were so interesting. Quite the ending!

This was my introduction to Alice Feeney and I'm so glad to have discovered her. The audio version was perfect as was the narrator. This was one title that seemed to be even more suspenseful listening to it.

The story of Daisy Darker is so intriguing and reminded me of Agatha Christie. The beloved family matriarch is found dead on an island where the characters' comings and goings are prescribed according to the whims of the ocean's tides. Thus, the fun and guessing begins. It's a dark and cold cast of characters with a plot of twists and turns that keep you guessing. I had a bit of trouble with the unconvincing ending but can't wait to read her next.

📖 Book Review! 📖

“There are times we all stand still while the ghosts of our past run by.”

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeny
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

I don’t think I have words for this one. This is one of my favorite thrillers I have ever read. The twist at the end is 🤯 (seriously y’all, I’m gonna need something to prop under my jaw!)

The characters in this novel are seriously so well written and so unique that it felt like you knew them and how they would react to certain situations.

The suspense… can we just take a minute to talk about the suspense in this book!? It is so good and THE TWIST! I’m gonna say it again THE TWIST! I will never recover from this twist. 🤣

This is about a family who spent years avoiding one another. They are all gathering again at a seaside estate for their nana’s 80th birthday. When the tide comes in their is no leaving so they will be stuck together for 8 hours. Each family member has a secret and as they arrive the tension grows. Until midnight when nana is found dead. And an hour later, another family member is dead. They are trapped on an island with someone who is killing them slowly. The family must face their demons and deal with their last before the tide comes in and everything is out on the table!

I am obsessed. This was the perfect book to pull me out of my reading slump. It has riddles, poems, quirky characters, family drama, twists and murder! What more would we ask for, really? 😂💕

You need this book. Just trust me, if you love spooky thrillers and dysfunctional families this will be a favorite for you this year. I will be reading this book again and again!

@alicewriterland has truly outdone herself. Soooo well done!

This book comes out on August 30th. Run and get a copy! You won’t regret it.

Thank you @netgalley and @flatiron_books for the ARC! I enjoyed it so much.

WHAT A FUN WHODUNNIT! I loved everything — the setting, the characters. Why didn't I save this for the week of halloween?! Now, it's not what I expected of Alice Feeney, but what a fun read for spooky season. Everyone get it!

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