Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney Book Review

Welcome to my review of Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney. I saw this one advertised and really wanted to read it, but I didn’t get on so well with Alice Feeney’s Rock, Paper, Scissors so was a little unsure going in. 

Click me to go to my Review

Synopsis

Isolated on their private island in Cornwall, the Darker family have come together for the first time in over a decade. When the tide comes in, they’ll be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. When the tide goes back out, nothing will ever be the same again. Nothing – because one of the family is a killer . . .

As the leaves of autumn fall, Daisy Darker arrives at her grandmother’s house for eightieth birthday celebrations. Seaglass, the Darker’s ancestral home, is a crumbling Cornish house perched upon its own tiny private island.

Every member of the family has their secrets. Nana, alone for so long. Daisy’s absent father, Frank. Her cold-hearted mother, Nancy. Her siblings, Rose and Lily, and her niece, Trixie, full of questions and without a father of her own. Daisy has never had an easy relationship with her family, but some secrets are much darker than others. This will be a gathering that some of them won’t remember.

About The Author

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author. Her books have been translated into over twenty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations. Including Rock Paper Scissors, which is being made into a TV series by the producer of The Crown. Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years, and now lives in Devon with her family. Daisy Darker is her fifth novel.

My Review

We start off with an impactful letter to the reader which isn’t clear if it’s a real letter or part of the story. Then we meet with Daisy and her compelling story.

Although slow at the beginning, I was unsure if I wanted to continue. After a discussion with a friend who was reading it at the same time, (which was awesome by the way!) I carried on by her recommendation and by around 20% it picked up considerably and became much more enjoyable. From there it was excitement after excitement.  

The story is devastatingly sad, especially when all is revealed, the characters are varied and dramatic but each is a perfect fit. The theories I had were crazy and I had accused almost every one of the characters at some point. I was totally gripped from that 20% mark onwards. 

This is one of the most cleverly written thrillers I have ever read, it was truly fantastic. I thought I had it all sewn up in my head and then doubted myself so many times, switching between who I thought was responsible and what I thought was going to happen like a yoyo. In the end, my first theory was correct, funnily enough, the same that my friend thought, and all became so much clearer. The ups and downs are brilliant but it’s a book that makes you think hard, to work it all out but it’s all-consuming. 

I switched between the audio and kindle copies. I loved the audio narration as well which I thought enhanced the book. 

This is a brilliant five-star read that I would highly recommend!

Rated