Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney is an adult mystery/thriller with a twist.
After being estranged for many years, Daisy Darker’s family is finally gathering for Nan's 80th birthday, at her run-down mansion, on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. The family is stuck together for the next 8-hours until the tide goes out again.
As the family arrives, each of them are forced to interact, all while keep their secrets close at hand. At the stroke of midnight, Nan is found murdered on the kitchen floor with only clues about who will be next. As the hours past, secrets are unveiled and one-by-one death comes for each of the Darker's. Will anyone be left when the tide goes out?
I'm a total Alice Feeney nerd. I love all of her books and I almost never guess the BIG twist at the end. But this time, I guessed it early on and then totally discounted it as something Feeney wouldn't do. Much to my chagrin, I was both right and wrong.
Although I liked this book, especially the setting and Nan's profession as a children's author, there was something missing for me. All of Feeney's other books are so dark and twisty, you almost never feel like you are on the right track. But this one, didn't feel like it had quite as much depth to it has some of her other novels. I also love a really wicked/twisted character in my thrillers and I I don't know that there was an actual "villain" here. Everyone was at fault.
As with all of Feeney's books, this one would be worth a second read to see if all the hints and clues actually line up. This one gets 3.5 stars from me. It wasn't my favorite Feeney book but I was still entertained and surprised in the end.
That's all for now!
-M-